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Microfiche 

Series. 


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Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommag6e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicui^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□   Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

□   Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bieue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lnreliure  serr^e  pjut  causer  de  i  ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  ie  tong  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  beer    .mitted  from  filming/ 
11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  iorsque  cela  «tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  itt  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppiimentaires; 


to 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meiileur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  ia  methods  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqufo  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  d^colortes,  tachet^es  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~l  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 


Tl 
PC 

fill 


Oi 
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or 


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Transparence 


□   Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  inigaie  de  I'impr'^ssion 

I      I   Includes  supplementary  material/ 


n 


Comprend  du  mat6riei  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuio  ddition  disponible 


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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totaiement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiilet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  fiim6es  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meiiieure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


aox 


MX 


28X 


32X 


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du 

tdiffier 

une 

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to 


pelura, 
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□ 

32X 


Tha  copy  filmod  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  host  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
iii  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 

Maps,  platas.  charts,  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  be 
antiraly  included  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


1 

2 

3 

L'exemplaira  f  llmA  f  ut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  «t4  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattetA  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  evec  les  conditions  du  contrbt  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exer/tplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmt's  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  paga  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
tIerniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tebleeux.  etc..  peuvent  *tre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff«rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich*.  il  est  film*  it  partir 
da  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  an  bas,  en  prenent  le  nombr^i 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

J  2otll  CONGJRESS, 

"*  2d  Session. 


(^ 


■'S 


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[84] 


MEMORIAL 


X)P 


WILLIAM  A   SLACUM, 


PR*YINrt 


f^ampensatioii  for  his  services  in  obtaining  information  in  rdation  to  ike 

settlements  on  the  Oregon  river. 


Dkcember  18,  1837. 

Referred  t(.i  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Relations,  anil  ordered  to  be  printed. 


To  the  Senate  and  Honsn  of  Representatives  of  the  United  Stales  of 

America  in  (Jonfrress  assembled  : 

The  memorial  of  William  A.  Slacitm 
Rkspeotfully  represents: 

* 

That  he  is  a  purser  in  the  navy  of  tlie  United  States ;  tiiat  on  the  12th 
of  November,  1835,  he  received'  the  communication  (marked  A)  which 
accompanies  this  memorial,  from  the  Secretary  of  State,  by  the .  direction 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  charging  him  with  the  performance 
of  a  certain  "  comjnission"  therein  specified,  to  wit:  "  to  obtain  some  spe- 
cific and  authentic  information  in  regard  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  country 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Oregon,  or  Columbia  river;  and,  generally, 
endeavor  to  obtain  all  such  information,  political,  physical,  .statistical,  nnd 
geographical,  as  may  prove  useful  or  interesting  to  this  Government." 

That,  on  the  1st  of  June,  1836,  youi  memorialist  commenced  to  perforin 
this  commission.  He  kfl  Guaymas,  which  is  situated. near  the  head  of  the 
Gulf  of  California,  on  that  day,  and  proceeded  to  Petic.  He  arrived  there 
on  the  4th  of  the  same  month,  and  purchased  m\iles,  provisions,  &,c ,  for 
his  journey  to  the  Columbia  river.  These  preparations  being  made,  he 
was  informed,  by  the  best  authority,  that  the  land  route  to  the  Columbia 
was,  at  that  season  of  the  year,  impracticable.  (See  letter  No.  1.)  Accord- 
ingly, he  was  compelled  to  abandon  that  attempt,  and  he  returned  to  Guay- 
mas, in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  procure  a  vessel,  by  which  to  efiect  his 
object.  There,  so  anxious  was  your  memorialist  to  fulfil  the  trust  confided 
to  him,  he  chartered  the  only  vessel  he  could  procure,  being  a  small  boat  of 
12  tons  burden,  (and  which  had  formerly  been  the  long-boat  of  the  ship 
James  Monroe,  of  New  York,)  and  in  her  he  set  sail  for  the  Columbia  riter, 
on  the  7th  of  July,  1836.  (See  letter  No.  2.),  After  havigating  about  400 
miles  in  this  frail  boat,  havmg  been  out  in  her  19  days,  and  been  well-nigh 
lost,  your  memorialist  was  forced  to  put  in^  Mazatlan  in  distress,  and  there 
B)aiv  "  ^'ves,  prinrcrs. 


I  --^4] 


3 


abandon  her.  (See  letter  Ko.  3.)  At  the  latter  place  your  momorialisf 
heard  that  a  vessel  was  lying  at  La-Paz,  Lower  California,  that  was  soon  to 
sail  for  the  Sandwich  islands.  This  being  now  the  only  hope  left  of  ac- 
complishing his  mission  that  year,  your  memorialist  determined  to  proceed 
t(^  the  Sandwich  islands  in  her,  and'  there  procure,  if  possible,  a  vessel  to 
go  into  the  Columbia.  Accordingly,  he  sailed  from  La-Paz  on  the  10th 
October,  (see  letter  No.  4,)  and  reached  the  Sandwich  islands  the  5th  of 
November  following.  There  he  chartered  the  American  brig  Loriot,  and 
set'Sail  for  the  Columbia  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month.  (See  letter  No.  5.) 
He  Krrived  in  the  (Columbia  river  on  the  22d  of  December,  1836. 

Your  memorialist  here  begs  leave  to  refer  your  honorable  body  to  his 
memoir,  which  accompanies  this  memorial,  (marked  B,)  and  which  con- 
tains a  full  and  true  account  of  all  that  transpired  during  his  presence  in 
the  Cohimbia  river  and  its  tributaries.  It,  together  with  the  maps  and 
charts  which  are  herewith  presented,  and  which  make  a  part  of  the  said 
memoir,  comprises  the  result  of  your  memorialist's  laborious  and  perilous 
mission. 

Having  made  this  narrative  of  his  operations,  your  memorialist  beg? 
leave  to  submit  the  following  considerations  to  your  notice  : 

1st.  This  imdertaking  was  not  in  the  tenor  of  his  official  duties.  Me 
was  charged  with  its  performance  by  the  President's  direction,  througli 
the  Department  of  State. 

2d.  Although  "  the  necessary  and  reasonable  expenses"  attending  this 
mission  were  promised  to  be  paid  by  the  Government,  your  memorialist 
regrets  to  state,  that  engagement  has  not  been  entirely  fulfilled.  In  the 
settlement  of  his  accounts  at  the  proptir  department,  considerable  dcduc- 
lions  have  been  made,  and  refused  to  be  allowed,  from  the  amount  of  ac- 
tual expenses  paid  by  your  memorialist,  and  which  he  humbly  thinks 
ought  to  be  allowed  and  repaid  to  him.  (See  papers  marketi  C,  and  let- 
ters Nos.  6  and  7.) 

3d.  Your  memorialist  has  not  submitted  any  account  against  the  (tov- 
ernment  for  the  expenses  of  preparing  for  the  land  journey  to  the  Columbia 
river.  He  has  exhibited  no  account  for  the  freight,  insurance,  or  inter- 
est of  the  tnoneys  devoted  by  him  to  the  public  service ;  nor  has  he 
charged  the  ITnited  States  with  the  money  which  he  thought  it  prudent 
and  politic  to  expend  in  presents  to  the  natives,  and  others  whom  he? 
visited-.  (Papier  marked  I)  contains  the  probable  amount  of  these  ex- 
penses.) 

All  the  above-mentioned  charges  and  expenses,  which  were  incurred 
and  paid  by  your  memorialist  for  Ihe  benefit  solely  of  his  Government,  he 
has  not  presented  against  it,  because  he  had  reasonably  expected  that  the 
President,  in  consideration  of  the  services  he  had  rendered,  would  have 
made  him  a  suitable  compensation. 

In  this  expectation  your  memorialist  has  been  disappointed,  and  there- 
fore he  presents  this  memorial  to  your  honorable  body,  with  the  request 
/hat,  if  you  approve  his  services,  you  will  indemnify  him  for  the  actual 
expenses  he  has  paid  in  performing  them;  and  will  also  make  him  what- 
ever remuneration  you  may  deem  those  services  to  merit  from  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States.  And  as  ia  duty  bound,  your  meniorialist  will 
ever  pray,  &c. 

W.  A,  SLACUM. 


! 


3 

A. 


[^4] 


Department  op  State, 

Washington,  November  \  I,  1835.  , 

S»". :  Having  understood  tliat  yoii  are  about  to  visit  the  Pacific  ocean, 
the  President  has  determined  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  thus  afford- 
ed, to  obtain  some  specific  and  authentic  information  in  regard  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  country  in  the  neighborliood  of  the  Oregon  or  Columbia 
river.  In  ^he  belief  that  you  will  willingly  lend  your  services  in  the  pros- 
ecution of  this  object,  I  now  give  you,  by  the  President's  direction,  such 
general  instructions  as  may  be  necessary  for  your  guidance  in  the  execu- 
tion of  the  proposed  commission. 

Upon  your  arrival  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  you  will  embrace 
the  earliest  opportunity  to  proceed  to  and  up  the  river  Oregon,  by  such 
conveyances  as  may  be  thought  to  offer  the  greatest  facilities  for  attaining 
the  ends  in  view.  You  will,  from  time  to  time,  as  they  occur  in  your 
progress,  stjp  at  the  different  settlements  of  whites  on  the  coast  of  tJie  Uni- 
ted States,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  also  at  the  various  Indian 
villages  on  the  banki^,  or  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  that  river; 
ascertain,  as  nearly  as  possible,  the  population  of  each  ;  the  relative  num- 
ber of  whites  (distinguishing  the  nation  to  which  they  belong)  and  abo- 
rigines ;  the  jurisdiction  the  whites  acknowledge ;  the  sentiments  enter- 
tained by  all  in  respect  to  the  United  States,  and  to  the  two  European 
pow(!rs  haviuir  possessions  in  that  regioti ;  and,  generally,  endeavor  to 
obtain  all  such  information,  politicil,  physical,  statistical,  and  geographical, 
as  may  prove  useful  or  interesting  to  this  Government.  For  this  purpose, 
it  is  recommended  that  you  should,  whilst  employed  on  this  service,  keep  a 
journal,  in  whicli  to  note  down  whatever  may  strike  you  as  worthy  of 
observation,  and  by  the  aid  of  which  you  will  be  enabled,  when  the  jour- 
ney is  com])lete(l,  to  make  a  full  and  acciu'ate  report  to  this  department  of 
all  the  information  you  may  have  collected  in  regard  to  the  country  and  its 
inhabitants.  . 

Your  necessary  and  reasonable  travelling  expenses  will  be  paid  from  the 
lieginning  of  your  journey  from  the  coast  of  the  Pacific  to  the  Columbia 
river,  and  till  your  return  to  this  city.  Vouchers,  in  all  cases  where  it 
may  be  practicable  to  get  them,  will  be  required  in, the  settlement  of  your 
account  at  the  Treasury  Department. 

I  am,  sir.  vour  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  FORSYTH. 

William  A.  Slaci'm,  Esq.  " 


n. 

American  Brig  Loriot,  off  San  Blas, 

March  26,  1837. 

Sir  :  My  letters  from  GuaymaS)  Mazatlan,  and  San  Bias,  up  to  the  lOth 
of  October  last,  will  have  acquainted  you  with  the  difficulties  I  encountered 
in  endeavoring  to  get  to  the  Columbia  river  by  the  route  along  the  seacoast 
from  Lower  California,  and  also  of  my  intention  to  proceed  to  the  Sand- 
wich islands  to  purchase  a  vessel  to  take  me  into  the  Columbia. 


SSSlSt 


[24] 


4 


From  information  I  received  al  Oahii,  I  considered  it  necessary  to  have 
a  vessel  under  my  entire  control,  in  order  to  be  independent  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  (who  have  absolute  authority  over  the  inhabitants  on  either 
side  of  the  river,  and  from  'vhom  alone  the  commonest  wants  or  supplies 
could  be  procured  ;)  at  the  same  time  to  have  a  shelter  under  the  flag  of 
my  country,  from  whence  I  might  hold  communications  with  the  Indians 
and  whites,  and  obtain  the  information  required  in  the  "Instructions"  I 
had  the  honor  to  receive  from  the  Department  of  State,  of  November  11, 
1835.  1  have  now  the  honor  to  communicate  the  following  account  of  my 
proceedings,  and  the  result  of  my  observations. 

I  left  Oahu  in  the  American  brig  Loriot  on  the  24th  of  November  last, 
and  on  the  22d  of  December  made  Cape  Disappointment,  tlie  northern 
point  of  entrance  to  the  Columbia.  The  wiild  wa?  high  from  the  west- 
ward, and  the  bar  presented  a  terrific  appearance,  breaking  entirely  across 
the  channel  from  the  north  to  the  south  shoals.  The  wind  blowing  di' 
rectly  on  shore,  and  believing  it  would  be  impossible  to  work  off  against 
the  heavy  westwardly  swell,  we  attempted  the  passage  at  twelve  M.,  and 
crossed  the  bar  safely,  in  not  less  than  five  fathoms,  and  anchored,  at  two 
o'clock,  in  Baker's  bay. 

I  am  thus  particular  because  the  idea  generally  prevails  that  the  bar  of 
the  Columbia  should  never  be  crossed  when  it  breaks.  In  the  afternoon 
the  wind  strengthen(?d  to  a  gale,  but  wc  were  completely  sheltered  by  Cape 
Disappointment. 

About  ei^ht  o'clock  at  night  we  were  visited  by  a  large  canoe,  containing 
twelve  Indians  of  the  Chenook  tribe.  The  principal  chief,  Chejiamus, 
and  his  wife,  \yere  of  the  party  ;  they  brought  us  wild  fowl,  ducks,  geese, 
dec.  The  first  question  Chenamus  asked  on  coming  on  board  was,  "  Is 
this  King  George  or  Boston  ship  ?  "  Chenamus  told  us  two  vessels  were 
lying  at  Fort  George,  distant  fourteen  miles,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
bay. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  before  we  weighed,  when  we 
stood  up  the  bay  towards  Fort  George.  We  anchored  at  night  opposite 
the  fort,  (at  the  entrance  of  the  river  formed  by  Chenook  point  ard  Point 
George,)  distant  five  miles. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  I  crossed  over  in  the  boat  to  the  fort, 
and  found  the  ships  alluded  to  by  the  Indians  were  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany's ships  Nereide  and  Llama,  both  loaded  and  ready  for  sea ;  the 
former  with  the  annual  supply  of  goods  suitable  for  the  Indian  trade  at  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company's  depots  aloujEf  the  coast  at  the  north,  from  Pugitt's 
sound  in  47°  30'  north,  to  Fort  Simpson,  in  64°  40'  north  ;  the  latter 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  British  manufactures,  bound  to  St.  Francisco, 
California.  Ascertained  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  ship  "Columbia" 
crossed  the  bar  on  the  26th  of  November,  bound  to  London,  with  a  valua- 
^ble  cargo  of  furs  and  peltries,  valued  at  £80,000— $380,000. 

On  tlie  morning  of  the  25th,  John  Bionie,  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's 
trader  at  Fort  George,  doubtless  with  a  view  to  inform  the  chief  factors 
(Messrs.  McLaughlin  and  Finlayson)  of  the  appearance  of  the  Loriot,  des- 
patched a  canoe  to  Fort  Vancouver.  I  availed  myself  of  this  oppc  "tunity 
to  write  to  Mr.  Finlayson,  (a  gentleman  whom  I  had  known  formerly  at 
the  Sandwich  island^)  requesting  him  to  send  me  down  a  pilot  and  a  stove, 
if  to  be  procured  at  tlie  fort. 

The  wind  favoring,  on  the  26th  we  stood  up  the  river,  but  made  little 


\ 


i 


[24] 


J 


4 


t 


\ 


t 


progress  against  a  strong  current ;  the  wind  falling  light,  at  night  we  were 
compelled  to  anchor. 

On  the  31st  I  received  an  answer  from  Mr.  Finlayson,  (by  the  pilot  whom 
he  sent  down,)  giving  me  a  polite  invitation  to  visit  Fort  Vancouver — was 
told  that  Mr.  Doughiss,  one  of  the  partners  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
had  come  down  the  river.  That  gentleman,  however,  proceeded  to  Fort 
George  by  an  inside  passage  ;  and  I  afterwards  understood  the  chief  object 
in  his  coining  down  was  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  my  visit,  as  it  was 
already  known  that  the  Loriot  had  no  cargo  on  board. 

Up  to  this  period  we  had  made  but  little  headway  in  working  up  against 
the  wind,  with  but  few  hours  slack  tide ;  but  this  favored  my  landing  daily, 
and  visiting  every  Indian  lodge  and  village  on  the  river,  from  "  Chenook" 
to  "  Oak  point." 

The  next  day,  Mr.  Douglass,  returning  from  Fort  George,  called  aboard 
the  Loriot,  and  repeated  the  invitation  given  me  by  Mr.  Finlayson,  to  visit 
Fort  Vancouver  ;  and,  as  there  was  but  one  more  Indian  settlement  be- 
tween this  point  and  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  establishment  at  Vancou- 
ver, I  embarked  with  Mr.  Douglass,  in  his  canoe,  with  nine  "  Canadian 
voyaguers."  We  made  about  fifty  miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  landed 
next  day  at  the  fort,  where  I  met  a  hospitable  reception  from  Dr.  John 
McLaughlin  and  Mr.  Duncan  Finlayson. 

Political  and  statistical. — State  of  the  country. — In  1G70,  a  charter  of 
Charles  the  2d  granted  an  exclusive  trade  to  the  governors  and  company 
of  adventurers  of  London,  trading  into  Hudson's  bay.  They  were  to  have 
the  sole  trade  and  commerce  of  and  to  all  the  seas,  bays,  and  straights, 
creeks,  lakes,  rivers,  and  sounds,  in  whatsoever  latitude,  that  lie  within  the 
straights  commonly  called  Hudson's  straights,  together  with  all  the  lands, 
countries,  and  territories  upon  the  coasts  of  such  seas,  bays,  and  straights, 
which  were  possessed  by  any  English  subject,  or  subjects  of  any  other 
Christian  State,  together  with  the  fishing  for  all  sorts  of  fish,  of  whales, 
sturgeon,  and  all  other  royal  fish,  with  the  royalty  of  the  seas.  As  lute  as 
1825,  this  extensive  charter  had  not  received  any  parliamentary  confirma- 
tion or  sanction. 

In  consequence  of  the  many  difficulties  and  quarrels  between  the  North- 
west and  Hudson  Bay  Companies,  the  British  Government  compelled  them 
to  merge  their  stock  into  one  company,  and  they  are  ni)w  called  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company.  This  coalition  took  place  in  1821.  It  is  therefore 
under  the  charter  of  the  Northwest  Company,  if  such  exists,  that  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company  now  claim  the  exclusive  right  to,  and  the  trade  and 
commerce  of,  all  the  country  from  the  north  bank  of  the  Columbia  river, 
to  54^^  40'  north,  alotifr  the  coast  of  the  North  Pacific  ocean.,  and  from  thence 
of  all  the  country  within  three  marine  leagues  of  the  coasts  the  Frozen  tr 
Arctic  sea.  ^ 

In  1818,  when  Fort  George  (Astoria)  was  formally  given  up  by  Captain 
Hickcy,  of  his  British  Maj  sty's  ship  Blossom,  and  Judge  Prevost  and  Cap- 
tain Biddle,  the  American  commissioners,  had  placed  the  customary  pla- 
cards declaratory  of  the  event  on  Capo  Di»sappointaient  and  Point  George, 
the  question  would  scarcely  have  been  asked  by  any  of  his  Britisli  Majes- 
ty's subjects  to  whom  the  country  of  right  belonged. .  Soon  after  the  de- 
parture of  the  United  States  ship  Ontario,  Ca])t;tin  Birldle,  the  buildings  al 
Fort  George  were  destroyed  by  fire.     It  is  said  the  act  was  comniiicd  by 


nm 


[  24  ]  6 

the  Indians,  who  Hkewise  took  away  the  placards  put  up  by  the  American 
commissioners. 

The  JNorthwest  Company  being  at  this  time  established  at  Fort  George, 
(having  purchased  of  Mr.  John  Jacob  Astor,  of  New  York,  his  interest  in 
his  trading  establishment,  called  by  him  Astoria,)  continued  to  trade  with 
the  Indians,  and  built  a  trading-house  near  the  site  of  the  old  fort.  This 
was  kept  up,  first  by  the  Northwest,  and  since  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany, to  the  present  day.  For  several  years  previously  to  the  coalition, 
however,  the  interior  trade  of  both  companies  had  become  materially  less- 
ened by  their  vicious  and  destructive  opposition  to  each  oilier;  but  from 
this  period,  the  coalition,  in  1821,  the  nov/  Hudson  Bay  Company  have 
extended  their  enterprises  over  an  extent  of  country  almost  incalculable. 

I  shall  endeavor  to  point  out  the  enterprise  of  this  company,  and  the  in- 
fluence they  exercise  over  the  Indian  tribes  within  our  acknowledged  lines 
of  territory,  and  their  unauthorized  hitroduction  of  large  quantities  of  British 
goods  within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  United  States. 

Fort  Vancouver,  the  principal  depot  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Conipany  west 
of  the  Rocky  mountains,  stands  on  a  gentle  acclivity,  four  hundred  yards 
from  the  shore,  on  the  noth  bank  of  the  Columbia,  or  Oregon  river,  about 
100  miles  from  its  uiouth.  The  principal  buildings  are  enclosed  by  a 
picket  forming  an  area  of  7o0  by  450  feet.  Within  the  pickets,  there  are 
thirty-four  buildings  of  all  descriptions,  including  ofiicers'  dwelling  houses, 
workshops  for  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  wheelwrights,  coopers,  tinners,  &;c., 
all  of  wood,  except  the  magazine  for  powder,  which  is  of  brick  ;  outside  and 
very  near  the  fort  there  are  forty  nine  cabins  for  laborers  and  mechanics,  a 
large  and  commodious  barn,  and  seven  buildings  attached  thereto  ;  a 
hospital  and  large  boat  house  on  the  shore,  six  miles  above  the  fort.  On 
the  north  bank,  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  have  erected  a  saw-mill  on  a 
neve  "  '  ag  stream  of  water  that  falls  into  the  Columbia;  cuts  2,000  to 
2,40('  of  lumber  daily  ;  employs  28  men,  chiefly  Sandwich  Islanders, 
and  ten  >oke  of  oxen  ;  depth  of  water,  four  fathoms,  a't  the  mill,  where  the 
largest  ships  of  the  company  take  in  their  cargoes  for  the  Sandwich  islands 
market. 

The  farm  at  Vancouver  contains,  at  this  time,  about  3,000  acres  of  land, 
fenced  and  under  cultivation,  employing  generally  100  men,  chiefly  Cana- 
dians and  half-breed  Iroquois;  the  mechanics  are  Europeans.  These,  with 
the  factors,  traders,  clerks,  and  domestics,  may  be  estimated  at  thirty.  The 
laborers  and  mechanics  live  outside  the  fort,  in  good  log  cabins— two  or 
three  families  generally  under  one  roof;  and  as  nearly  every  man  has  a  wife, 
or  lives  with  an  Indian  or  half-breed  woman,  and  as  each  family  has  from 
two  to  five  slaves,  the  whole  number  of  persons  about  Vancouver  may  be 
estimated  at  750  to  800  souls.  The  police  of  the  establishment  is  as  strict 
as  in  the  best  regulated  military  garrison.  The  men  are  engaged  for  the 
term  of  five  years,  at  the  rate  of  £17  to  £15  per  annum  ;  but,  as  the  ex- 
change is  reduced  to  currency  at  the  rate  of  five  shillings  to  the  dollar,  the 
pound  sterling  is  valued  at  $4 ;  hence,  the  price  of  labor  is  $5  66§  to 
{$6  66|  per  month. 

The  ration  consists  of  eight  gallons  of  potatoes  and  eight  salt  salmon  a 
week  per  man.  in  winter,  and  peas  and  tallow  in  summer ;  no  bread  or 
meat  allowed  by  the  company  at  any  time.  Out  of  this  ration,  each  man 
has  to  support  himself  and  family,  or  make  his  Indian  slaves  hunt  and  fish 
foj  their  support. 


1 


i 


7  [  24  ] 

The  farm  at  Vancouver  has  produced  this  year,  8,000  bushels  of  wheat, 
5,500  bushels  of  barley,  6,000  bushels  of  oats,  9,000  bushels  of  peas,  14,000 
bushels  of  potatoes,  besides  large  quantities  of  turnips,  (rutabaga,)  pumpkins, 
4fcc.  About  6,000  bushels  of  wheat,  of  the  old  qrop,  remain  on  hand  this 
year. 

iStock  consists  of  about  1,000  head  of  neat  cattle,  TOO  hogs,  200  shee, , 
450  to  500  horses,  and  40  yoke  of  working  oxen.  There  is  a  large  threshing 
machine, distillery, (not  at  present  in  operation,)  and  a  grist-mill.  In  short,  th(i 
fiirm  is  abundantly  supplied  with  all  the  requisite  utensils  for  a  much  larger 
establishment ;  and  it  will  be  much  increased  the  ensuing  year.  A  thriving 
orchard  is  also  planted  ;  the  apple,  quince,  pears,  and  the  grape  grow  well. 

Trade^  ^c.  — A  large  ship  arrives  annually  from  London,  and  discharges 
at  Vancouver;  CcTTgo,  chiefly  coarse  woollens,  cloths,  baizes,  and  blankets; 
hardware,  cutlery,  calicoes,  cottons,  and  cotton  handkerchiefs;  tea,  sugar, 
coffee,  and  cocoa;  tobacco,  soap,  beads,  guns,  powder,  lead,  rum,  playing 
cards,  boots,  shoes,  ready-made  clothing,  &,c.,  A:c.;  besides  every  description 
of  sea  stores,  canvass,  cordage,  paints,  oils,  chains  and  chain  cable,  anchors, 
tfcc,  to  refit  the  company's  ships  that  remain  on  the  coast.  These  are  the 
ship  Nereide,  the  brig  Llama,  the  schooner  Cadborougli,  and  sloop  Brough- 
ton  ;  the  steamboat  Benrer,  of  150  tons,  two  engines  of  thirty  horse  power 
each,  built  in  London  last  year.  'J^hese  vessels  are  all  well  armed  and 
niiunied ;  the  crews  are  engaged  in  England,  to  serve  five  years,  at  £2  per 
month  for  seamen.  The  London  ship,  with  the  annual  supply,  usually 
arrives  in  the  Columbia  in  early  spring,  discharges,  and  takes  a  cargo  of 
lumber  to  the  Sandwich  islands;  returns  in  August  to  receive  the  furs  that 
are  brought  to  the  depot  (Fort  Vancouver)  once  a  year,  from  the  interior, 
via  the  Columbia  river,  from  the  Snake  country,  and  from  the  American 
rendezvous  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  and. from  as  far  south  as  St. 
Francisco,  «x  California.  Whilst  one  of  the  company's  vessels  brings  in 
the  collections  of  furs  and  peltries  made  rtt  the  different  depots  along  the 
coast  at  the  north,  (see  map,)  the  steamboat  is  now  being  employed  in  navi- 
gating those  magnificent  straights  from  Juan  de  Tuca  to  Siickern.  Im- 
mense quantities  of  furs,  sea  otter,  beaver,  martin,  and  sable  can  be  collected 
along  the  shores  of  these  bays  and  inlets.  The  chief  traders  at  Narquallah, 
in  47°  30',  Fort  Langley,  in  49°  50',  Fort  McLaughlin,  in  52°  10',  Fort 
Simpson,  in  54°  40'  north,  purchase  all  the  furs  and  peltries  from  the  In- 
dians in  their  vicinity  and  as  far  as  New  Caledonia,  in  the  interior,  and 
supply  them  with  guns,  powder,  lead,  tobacco,  beadsj  &.c. ;  all  of  which 
supplies  are  taken  from  the  principal  depot  at  Fort  Vancouver. 

An  express,  as  it  is  called,  goes  out  in  March,  annually,  from  Vancouver, 
and  ascends  1,he  Columbia  900  miles  in  batteaux.  One  of  the  chief  factors, 
or  chief  traders,  takes  charge  of  the  property,  and  conveys  to  York  factory, 
on  Hudson's  bay,  the  annual  returns  of  the  business  conducted  by  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  in  the  Cojumbia  district. 
This  party  likewise  conveys  to  the  different  forts  along  the  route,  (see  map.) 
goods  suitable  to  the  Indian  trade ;  other  parties  take  up  supplies,  as  they 
may  be  required,  to  Wallawallah,  250  miles  above  Vancouver;  to  Colville, 
600  miles  above ;  to  the  fort  at  the  junction  of  Lewis's  river,  700  miles 
above;  and  to  the  south  to  the  Fort  McRoys,  on  the  river  Umpqua,  in  lati- 
tude 43°  50'  north:  and  last  year,  chief  trader  Mclicod  took  up  to  the 
American  rendezvous,  in  about  latitude  43°  north,  a  large  supply  of  British 


manufactures.     This  assemblaire  of  American 


trappers 


and  hunters  takes 


[24] 


9 


place  annually  on  the  western  side  of  tlie  Rocky  niountuins,  generally  m 
the  month  of  July,  and  amounts  from  450  to  500  men,  who  brings  the  result 
of  their  year's  lah)or  to  sdll  to  the  American  fur  traders.  These  persons 
purchase  their  supplies  for  the  trappers  at  St.  Louis;  though,  after  being 
subject  to  the  duties  on  these  articles,  (chiefly  of  British  manufacture,)  they 
transport  their  goods  about  i,400  miles  by  land,  to  sell  to  citizens  of  the 
United  States  within  our  acknowledged  lines  of  territory.  Last  year,  ihey 
met  a  powerful  opponent,  in  the  agent  of  this  foreign  monopoly,  chief  trader 
McLeod,  who  could  well  afford  to  undersell  the  American  fur  trader  on  his 
ovm  ground — first,  by  having  the  advantage  of  water  communiciition  on 
the  Columbia  and  Lewis's  rivers  for  a  distance  of  700  to  800  miles;  and. 
secondly,  by  introducing  the  goods  free  of  duty,  v\  hich  is  equal  to  at  least 
twenty-five  to  thirty  per  cenUnn:  but  a  greater  evil  than  this  exists  in  the 
influence  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  exercises  over  the  Indians,  by  suppl}'- 
ing  them  with  arms  and  ammunition,  which  may  prove,  at  some  future 
period,  highly  dangerous  to  our  frontier  settlements.  Besides  this,  the  policy 
of  this  company  is  calculated  to  perpetuate  the  institution  of  slavery,  which 
now  exists,  and  is  encouraged,  among  all  the  Indian  tribes  west  of  tlie 
Rocky  mountains. 

I  shall  refer  to  this  more  particularly  hereafter.  From  what  I  have  seen, 
I  feel  perfectly  satisfied  that  no  individual  enterprise  can  compete  with  this 
immense  foreign  monopoly  established  in  our  own  waters;  for  instance,  an 
American  vessel,  coming  from  New  York  oi*  Boston  to  trade  on  the  nortli- 
west  coast  or  the  Columbia,  would  bring  a  cargo  chiefly  of  British  manu- 
factures, on  which  ihe  duties  had  been  paid ;  or,  if  the  cargo  was  shipped 
for  drawback,  the  vessel  would  have  to  enter  some  other  port  to  discharge 
and  reload,  in  order  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  debenture  certificates;  whereas 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  vessels  come  direct  from  liOndon,  discharge 
at  Vancouver,  pay  no  duty,  nor  are  they  subject  to  the  expense  and  delay 
of  discharging  and  reloading  in  a  foreign  port. 

Since  the  year  1828,  a  party  of  forty  to  fifty  trappers,  (Canadians,)  with 
their  women,  slaves,  &.c.,  generally  amounting  to  150  to  200  persons,  and 
300  horses,  go  out  from  Vancouver,  towards  the  south,  as  far  as  40°  north 
latitude.  These  parties  search  every  stream,  and  take  every  beaver  skirj 
they  find,  regardless  of  the  destruction  of  the  young  animals:  excesses,  too. 
ore  unquestionably  comhiitted  by  these  hunting  parties  on  the  Indians ; 
and  every  small  American  party  (save  one)  that  has  passed  through  the 
same  country  has  met  defeat  and  death.  The  parties  oeing  much  smaller 
than  those  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  the  Indians  attack  them  with 
success;  and  the  Americans  hesitate  not  to  charge  the  subordinate  agents 
of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  with  instigating  the  Indians  to  attack  all 
other  parties. 

In  1829,  the  American  brig  Owyhee,  Captain  I3omines,  of  New  York, 
entered  the  Columbia,  and  commenced  trading  with  the  Indians  for  beaver 
skins  and  peltries.  In  the  course  of  nine  months,  Captain  Domipes  pro- 
cured a  cargo  valued  dX  ninety-six  thousand  dollars.  It  happened  that  this 
year  the  fever  that  has  since  desolated  the  Cohiinbia  from  the  falls  to  Oak 
point  appeared,  and  Dr.  McLaughlin,  thechieffactorofthe  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany, with  all  the  gravity  imaginable,  informed  me  the  Indians  to  this  day  be- 
lieve that  Homines,  of  the  '■^Boston  shijt,'''  brought  the  fever  to  the  river. 
How  easy  was  it  for  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  agents  to  make  the  Indians 
believe  this  absurdity,  for  reasons,  too,  the  most  obvious  !  Domines  was  dai- 


9 


[24] 


ly  assailed  with  reports  that  the  Indians  intended  attacking  him  when  hi«? 
vessel  was  lying  at  the  rapids  of  the  Willhamett,  alias  the  "  Maltononiah,"  of 
Lewis  and  Clark.  The  Rev.  Jason  Lee  told  me  Dr.  McLaughlin  had  in- 
formed him  that  the  principal  chief  of  the  Willhamett  tribe  had  proposed  to 
cut  off  the  Owyhee,  doubtless  thinking  it  would  prove  agreeable  to  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company.    Dr.  McLaughlin,  of  course,  forbid  the  measure. 

The  Indians  are  taught  to  believe  that  no  vessels  but  the  "Company's" 
ships  are  allowed  to  trade  in  the  river ;  and  most  of  them  are  afraid  to  sell 
their  skins  but  at  Vancouver  or  Fort  George  ;  of  this  1  had  positive  evidence 
from  the  Indians  themselves,  as  well  as  from  a  remark  made  by  chief  tra- 
der, McLeod,  aboard  the  "  Llama,"  in  Baker's  bay.  It  was  mentioned  in 
the  course  of  conversation  that  a  Madam  "  Perand,"  wife  of  one  of  the 
Canadian  settlers  on  the  Willhamett,  had  just  come  in  with  twenty  to  thirty 
fine  beaver  skins.  Some  one  of  the  party  remarked,  turning  towards  Cap- 
tain Bancroft,  of  the  Loriot,  "there  is  a  fine  chance  for  a  bargain."  Mr.  Mc 
Leod  quickly  replied— "d — n  the  skin  shall  Madam  'Perand'  sell  to  cross 
the  bar  of  the  Columbia."  This  was  said  in  the  presence  of  Captains 
McNeil,  Bancroft,  Brotchie,  Rd.  Bevrevie,  and  myself. 

The  next  American  vessel  that  entered  the  river  after  the  Owyhee  and 
her  consort,  the  "  Convoy,"  was  the  brig  "  Mary  Dane,"  of  Boston.  She 
arrived  in  1835,  to  procure  a  cargo  of  salmon.  In  consequence  of  some 
arrangement,  the  cause  of  whicli  I  am  unacquainted  with,  Mr.  Wyeth,  the 
owner  and  agent,  agreed  not  lo  purchase  furs,  provided  13r.  McLaughlin 
would  throw  no  impediment  in  his  w;iy  of  procuring  salmon.  This  en- 
terprise failed ;  only  800  to  900  pounds  of  salmon  were  obtained. 

Stock,  i$'c.  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  is  held  in  shares,  (100.)  Chief 
traders  and  chief  factors  who  reside  in  America,  are  called  partners.  Chief 
factors  are  entitled  to  one-eight  of  one  share,  or  rather  the  profits  arising 
from  the  same,  equal  to  about  $4,500  to  $5,000  per  annum.  Chief  traders 
one-sixteenth,  or  half  the  above  amount,  $2,250  to  $2,500.  They  are  not 
stockholders  in  perpetuity,  as  they  cannot  sell  out  as  other  stockholders,  but 
have  only  a  life  estate  in  the  general  stock. 

A  council  annually  assembles  at  "  York  Factory,"  where  reports  from 
the  different  "  districts,"  east  and  west  of  the  Rocky  mountains  are  read 
and  recorded,  and  their  proceedings  forwarded  to  London,  to  the  "Hudson 
Bay  house."  Chief  factors  and  chief  traders  hold  a  seat  at  this  council  board, 
and  Gavernor  Simpson  presides.  It  is  here  that  every  new  enterprise  is 
canvassed,  expense  and  probable  profits  carefully  inquired  into,  as  each 
member  feels  a  personal  interest  in  every  measure  adopted.  If  it  is  ascer- 
tained that  in  certain  "districts"  the  quantity  of  beaver  diminishes,  the  trap- 
pers are  immediately  ordered  to  desist  for  a  few  years,  that  the  animals  may 
increase,  as  the  wealth  of  t!ie  country  consists  in  its  furs  ;  and  so  strict  are 
the  laws  among  many  of  the  northern  Indian  tribes  that  to  kill  a  beaver  out 
of  season,  (i.  e.  in  the  spring  or  summer,)  is  a  crime  punished  with  death. 
The  enforcement  of  this  law  is  strongly  encouraged  by  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company.  Not  so  careful,  however,  are  the  company  of  the  territory  not 
their  own  ;  on  the  contrary,  they  have  established,  a  rort  and  trading  house 
called  "  McRoy's  Fort,"  on  the  river  Umpqua,  in  43*^  50'.  This  fine  stream 
falls  into  the  Pacific,  (but  is  not  laid  down  in  any  printed  map ;)  ten  thousand 
beaver  skins  are  collected  here,  and  double  this  amount  brought  out  of  the 
country  adjacent,  within  our  lines  ;  and  the  Indians  are  encouraged  to  "  (rap 
the  streams-^  at  all  seasons ;  from  Wallawallah,  Lewis's  river,  and  the  Snake 


[24] 


10 


f 


I 


.|- 


•li 


country,  all  lying  between  42°  and  46°  north  latitude,  60,000  skins  me 
collected.  The  price  of  a  beaver  skin  in  the  '>  Columbia  district"  is  ten 
shillings,  $2,  payable  in  goods  at  50  per  cent  on  the  invoice  cost.  Each 
skin  averages  one  and  a  half  pound,  and  is  worth  in  New  York  or  Lon- 
don $5  per  pound  ;  value  $7  50.  The  beaver  skin  is  the  circulating  me- 
dium of  the  country. 

Indian  slavery. — The  price  of  a  slave  varies  from  eight  to  fifteen  blan- 
kets. Women  are  valued  higher  than  men.  If  a  slave  dies  within  six 
months  of  the  time  of  purchase,  the  seller  returns  one-half  the  purchase 
money.  As  long  as  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  permit  their  servants  to 
hold  slaves,  the  institution  of  slavery  will  be  perpetuated,  as  the  price,  eight 
to  fifteen  blankets,  is  too  tempting  for  an  Indian  to  resist.  Many  instances 
have  occurred  where  a  man  has  sold  his  own  child.  The  chief  factor  at 
Vancouver  says  the  slaves  are  the  property  of  the  women  with  whom  their 
woikmen  live,  and  do  not  belong  to  men  in  their  employ,  although  I  have 
known  cases  to  the  contrary.  We  shall  see  how  this  reasoning  applies. 
These  women,  who  are  said  to  be  the  owners  of  the  slaves,  are  frequently 
bought  themselves  by  the  men  with  whom  they  live,  when  they  are  mere 
children  ;  of  course  they  have  no  means  to  purchase,  until  their  husbands 
w  their  men  make  the  purchase  from  the  proceeds  of  their  labor  ;  and  then 
these  women  are  considered  the  ostensible  owners,  which  neither  lessens 
the  traffic,  nor  ameliorates  the  condition  of  the  slave,  whilst  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  find  it  to  their  interest  to  encourage  their  servants  to  inter- 
marry or  live  with  the  native  women,  as  it  attoches  the  men  to  the  soil,  and 
their  offspring  (half  breeds)  become  in  their  turn  useful  hunters  and  work- 
men at  the  different  depots. of  the  company.  The  slaves  are  generally  em- 
ployed to  cut  wood,  hunt,  and  fish,  for  the  families  of  the  men  employed  by 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  are  ready  for  any  extra  work.  Each  man 
of  the  trapping  parties  has  from  two  to  three  slaves,  who  assist  to  hunt,  and 
take  care  of  the  horses  and  camp ;  they  thereby  save  the  company  the  ex- 
pense of  employing  at  least  double  the  number  of  men  that  would  other- 
wise be  required  on  these  excursions. 

After  passing  ten  days  at  Fort  Vancouver,  and  visiting  the  Indian  lodges 
near  the  farm,  <fec.  finding  it  would  be  impossible  to  get  a  party  to  accom- 
pany me  at  this  season  of  the  year  across  the  mountains,  I  determined  to 
visit  the  only  white  settlement  on  the  river  Willhamett,  the  Mulionomah  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  January,  having  been 
furnished  by  Dr.  McLaughhn  with  a  canoe  and  six  men,  and  all  the  ne- 
cessaries for  the  voyage,  1  left  Fort  Vancouver  to  ascend  the  Willhamett. 
I  shall  withhold  a  description  of  this  beautiful  river  for  the  present.  On 
the  night  of  the  11th,  I  passed  the  falls  thirty  miles  distant.  On  the  12th, 
at  midnight,  I  reached  '•  Camp  Maud  du  Sable,"  the  first  white  settlement 
on  the  river.  My  men  had  been  in  the  canoe  paddling  against  a  strong 
current  for  twenty-two  hours,  without  any  intermission  except  in  making 
the  portage  at  the  falls.  "  Camp  Maud  du  Sable"  is  distant  about  fifty-five 
miles  from  the  Columbia,  running  nearly  due  South.  The  first  settler  was 
"  Jean  Baptiste  Deshortez  McRoy,"  who  came  to  the  coUntry  with  the 
American  Fur  Company  in  1809,  (Astor's  company.)  McRoy  pitched  his 
tent  permanently  at  this  place,  six  years  since.  For  the  first  two  years  he 
was  almost  alone  ;  but  within  four  years  post  the  population  has  much  in- 
creased, and  is  now  one  of  tlie  most  prosperous  settlements  to  be  found  iu 
any  new  country. 


11 


[24] 


s  die 
3  ten 
Each 
Lon- 
f  me- 

blan- 
n  six 
chase 
nts  to 
eight 
ances 
5tor  at 
I  their 
[  have 
pplies. 
uently 
}  mere 
sbauds 
id  then 
lessens 
ludson  ' 
3  inter- 
3il,  and 
I  work- 
lly  em- 
)yed  by 
ch  man 
nt,  and 
the  ex- 
olhet- 

lodges 
accom- 
lined  to 
amah  of 
been 
The  ne- 
lamett. 
t.    On 
12th, 
lement 
I  strong 
making 
fty-five 
tier  was 
vith  the 
>hed  his 
ears  he 
^nch  in- 
bnnd  in 


le 


The  Rev.  Jason  Lee,  missionary  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
New  York,  having  heard  through  Dr.  McLaughlin  of  my  intention  to  visit 
the  Willhamett  settlement,  politely  came  down  from  the  mission  house,  dis- 
tant eighteen  miles,  to  meet  me  at  this  place.  In  company  with  this  gen- 
tleman, I  called  on  all  the  settlers  in  the  lower  settlement,  and  next  day  vis- 
ited the  mission  house  and  upper  settlement.  No  language  of  mine  can 
convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  great  benefit  these  worthy  and  most  excel- 
lent n^eu,  the  Messrs.  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee,  Messrs.  Shephard  and  Edwards, 
their  assistants,  have  conferred  upon  this  part  of  the  countrj^,  not  by  pre- 
cept, but  example,  as  I  think  the  following  result  of  their  labors  will  show. 

To  use  Mr.  Jason  Lee's  own  words,  "  it  was  after  having  heard  that  an 
Indian,  of  the  Flat  Head  tribe  had  crossed  the  Rocky  mountains  to  inquire 
of  Governor  Clark,  at  St.  Louis,  about  the  Grorf  that  the  pale  faces  worship- 
ped, that  first  led  me  to  think  of  establishing  a  '  mission'  west  of  the  moun- 
tains." Two  years  since,  last  October,  Mr.  Lee's  party  encamped  on  the 
ground  where  their  dwelling  now  stands,  immediately  on  the  banks  of  the 
"Willhamett."  They  commenced  felling  timber  with  their  own  hands,  and  by 
Christmas  they  erected  the  frame  of  their  house  and  had  it  half  covered  in, 
and  fenced  24  acres  of  land.  In  the  spring  they  put  in  a  crop  which  pro- 
duced the  first  year,  1835, 

150  bushels  of  wheat. 


35      do. 

56      do. 

87      do. 
250      do. 
2d  year,  1836 : 

500  bushete  of  wheat 


of  oats, 
of  barley, 
of  peas, 
of  potatoes. 


of  peas, 

of  oats, 

of  barley, 

of  corn, 

of  beans, 

of  potatoes, 

with  a  full  supply  of  garden  vegetables.  They  have  built  a  good  barn,  added 
to  their  dwelling-house,  which  now  consists  of  four  large  rooms,  18  by  20 
feet,  lofts  and  cellar,  have  a  good  garden  and  150  acres  of  land  enclosed 
under  good  fencing.  With  the  exception  of  three  months'  hired  labor  of  a 
carpenter  to  finish  the  inside  of  their  dwelling  and  make  tables,  forms,  &,c. 
for  their  school  room,  the  above  is  the  work  of  these  pious  and  industrious 
men,  assisted  by  the  Indian  children  of  the  school.  Their  family  at  present 
consists  of  3  adults,  and  19  full  blooded,  and4  half  breed  Indian  children, 
10  of  whom  are  orphans.  7  girls  and  15  boys  attend  the  school ;  likewise  8 
half  breeds'  children  of  the  neighboring  settlers.  The  children  are  all 
taught  to  speak  English.  Several  of  them  read  perfectly  well.  They 
are  all  well  clothed  and  fed,  and  are  already  very  cleanly  in  their  habits. 
The  larger  boys  work  on  the  farm  in  fine  weather.  They  can  plough,  reap, 
and  do  all  ordinary  farm  work  well.  Several  of  them  evince  gooid  me- 
chanical genius.  Mx.  Lee  assures  me  that  most  of  the  boys  have  earned 
their  board,  clothing,  and  tuition,  estimating  their  labor  at  the  lowest  rate 
of  wages  allowed  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  Their  school  and  family 
could  be  much  increased,  but  they  do  not  wish  to  add  to  their  number  until 
they  receive  further  assistance,  thinking  it  the  wisest  plan  at  present,  for 


[24] 


12 


n  i 


the  sake  of  example,  to  attend  strictly  to  the  mental  and  physical  instruc- 
tion of  these  "  Neophytes." 

The  land  on  which  the  mission  house  is  established  is  rich  alluvial  de- 
posite,  open  prairie,  interspersed  with  good  timber.  Mr.  liCe  acknowledges 
the  kindest  assistance  from  Dr.  McLaughlin,  of  Fort  Vancouver,  who  gave 
him  the  use  of  horses,  oxen,  and  milch  cows,  and  furnished  him  with  all 
his  supplies.  Indeed,  Dr.  McLaughlin  has  acted  towards  many  of  the 
settlers  in  the  same  manner,  giving  them  the  use  of  cattle  and  horses  on  the 
following  terms  :  The  produce  of  the  neat  cattle  and  horses  belong  to  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  are  liable  to  be  called  for  at  any  time.  If  the 
cattle  die,  the  persons  holding  them  are  not  charged  with  their  value. 
Horses^ to  be  returned  in  kind,  or  the  sura  of  $8,  the  current  value  of  the 
horse,  is  charged. 

To  convey  an  idea  of  the  industry  and  iprogress  of  the  Willhamett  set- 
tlement, I  beg  to  refer  to  paper  B.  It  would  be  doing  the  Messrs.  Lee  and 
their  associates  injustice,  were  I  to  omit  speaking  of  their  successful  and 
happy  efforts  in  establishing  a  temperance  society  among  men  who  are  gen- 
erally considered  as  being  almost  without  the  pale  of  moral  restraint,  (I  mean 
trappers ;)  and  it  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  add,  that  every  white  man  in 
the  settlement  entertains  the  highest  respect  for  the  character  and  conduct  of 
the  Lees  and  their  associates.  This  circumstance  is  sufficient  evidence  of 
their  worth.  Papers  C  and  D  will  show  their  laudable  efforts  in  arresting 
this  destructive  element,  the  white  man's  poison,  the  Indian's  certain  death. 
The  case  of  Ewing  Young,  referred  to  in  paper  C,  will  be  understood  by 
his  statement  E,  and  some  verbal  explanations  which  I  shall  make  in  rela- 
tion to  his  case. 

After  duly  considering  the  great  benefit  that  would  result  to  this  thriving 
country  if  the  distillery  of  Ewing  Young  could  be  prevented  from  being 
put  into  operation,  and  inasmuch  as  he  candidly  admitted  it  was  nothing 
but  sheer  necessity  that  compelled  him  to  adopt  the  measure,  I  told  him 
(Young)  that  I  thought  he  had  gained  his  point  without  adopting  the 
expedient  that  produced  it,  as  1  was  authorized  by  Mr.  Finlayson  to  sf.y,. 
"  if  he  would  abandon  his  enterprise  of  distiUing  whiskey,  he  could  he 
permitted  to  get  his  necessary  supplies  from  Fort  Vancouver,  on  the  same 
terms  as  other  men ;"  and  further :  I  proposed  to  loan  him  ^150,  get  him 
a  supply  of  decent  clothing  from  the  fort,  in  my  name,  and  give  himself 
and  his  partner,  Carmichael,  a  passage  to  California,  as  he  informed  me*he 
was  exceedingly  anxious  to  go  thither  to  clear  himself  of  the  calumny  that 
General  Figacou,  had  through  Dr.  McLaughlin,  circulated  against  him, 
producing  in  effect  the  most  unjustifiable  persecution.  Mr.  Young  seemed 
deeply  sensible  of  my  offer :  said  a  cloud  hung  over  him  so  long,  through 
Dr.  McLaughlin's  influence,  that  he  was  almost  maddened  by  the  harsh 
treatment  he  had  received  from  that  gentleman.  I  left  him  under  a  promise 
of  receiving  an  answer  to  my  proposition  next  day.  In  the  course  of  con- 
versation with  Mr.  Lee,  Young,  and  other  settlers,  I  found  that  nothing 
was  wanting  to  insure  comfort,  wealth,  and  every  happiness  to  the  people 
of  this  most  beautiful  country  but  the  possession  of  neat  cattle,  all  of  those 
in  the  country  being  owned  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who  refuse  to 
sell  them  under  any  circumstances  whatever.  I  then  proposed  to  give  to 
as  many  of  the  settlers  as  chose  to  embark  in  the  Loriot,  a  free  passage  to 
California,  where  they  might  procure  cattle  at  $3  per  head.  The  advan- 
tage of  being  landed  in  California  or  Bodega  free  of  expense,  and  the  risk 


I  being 
othing 
d  him 
ijg  the 
to  st.y,. 
uld  he 
e  same 
:et  him 
imselt' 
me 'he 
y  that 
it  him, 
leemed 
lirough 
harsh 
iromise 
f  con- 
othing 
people 
those 
Ifuse  to 
five  to 
saffc  to 


ladvnn- 


13 


[•i4] 


of  the  road,  was  very  great.  A  meeting  was  accordingly  held  in  the  lower 
settlement,  where  the  paper  F  was  drawn  up.  Mr.  Young  was  appointed 
leader  of  the  party.  All  the  settlers  who  had  money  due'  them  worn  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  contributed  to  the  enterprise.  Ten  men  embarked 
in  the  Loriot,  and  were  landed  safely  at  Bodega,  on  the  20th  February. 
I  advanced  Mr.  Lee  $500.  This  sum,  added  to  the  contributions  of  the 
settlers,  produced  $1,600,  a  sura  sufficient  to  purchase  five  hundred  head 
of  cattle  in  California.  I  will  here  remark  that  when  I  parted  with 
Mr.  Young,  at  Monterey,  on  the  2d  March,  he  had  every  prospect  of  pro- 
curing all  the  cattle  required,  on  the  north  side  of  the  bay  of  St.  Francisco, 
He  hr\d  likewise  received  propositions  from  several  Americans  residing  at 
California  to  return  with  him  to  the  Willhamett  with  their  stock  of  cattle, 
thus  doubly  reinforcing  the  settlement  from  this  accession  the  party  will 
receive  in  California.  They  will  doubtless  reach  the  Willhamett  scifely  in 
June,  the  distance  by  the  coast  of  the  Pacilic  being  about  six  hundred 
miles.  The  men  are  all  experienced  woodsmen.  1  certainly  view  this 
measure  as  one  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  future  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  this  fine  country,  even  if  no  other  object  is  attained  by  my  visit 
to  the  Columbia. 

A  large  cargo  of  wheat,  five  thousand  five  hundred  bushels,  could 
at  this  time  be  procured  from  the  settlers  on  the  Willhamett.  It  would 
find  a  good  market  at  the  Sandwich  islands,  the  Russian  settlements  at 
Norfolk  sound,  (Sitka,)  or  in  Peru ;  but  some  steps  must  be  taken  by  our 
Government  to  protect  the  settlers  and  the  trader,  not  from  the  hostility  of 
the  Indians,  but  from  a  much  more  formidable  enemy,  that  any  American 
trading  house  establishing  itself  on  the  Willhamet  or  Columbia  would  have 
to  encounter,  in  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  All  the  Canadian  settlers  have 
been  in  the  service  of  the  company ;  and  from  being  for  a  long  time  subject 
to  the  most  servile  submission  to  the  chiefs  of  tne  monopoly,  are  now, 
although  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  company,  still  blindly  obedient 
to  the  will  of  those  in  authority  at  Vancouver,  who,  on  their  part,  urge  the 
plea  that,  by  the.legislative  enactments  of  Canada,  they  are  prohibited  from 
discharging  their  servants  in  the  Indian  country.  Therefore  they  consider 
the  people  of  the  Willhamett,  although  freemen  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
still  subject  to  the  protection  and  authority,  liierwise  thraldom  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company — it  being  only  necessary  for  the  authorities  at 
Vancouver  to  say,  "  if  you  disobey  my  orders,  your  supplies  shall  be  cut 
off;"  and  the  settler  knows  Sit  once  that. his  few  comforts,  nay,  necessaries 
of  life,  are  stopped,  rendering  him  more  miserable  than  the  savage  that 
lurks  around  his  dwelling. 

At  the  public  meeting  that  took  place  at  "  Camp  Maud  du  Sable"  on  the 
subject  of  the  expedition  to  California,  the  liveliest  interest  appeared  to  be 
felt  when  1  told  the  "  Canadians"  that,  although  they  were  located  within 
the  territorial  limits  of  the  United  States,  their  pre-emption  rights  would 
doubtless  be  secured  them  when  our  Government  should  take  possession  of 
the  country.  I  also  cheered  tliem  with  the  hope  that  ere  long  some  steps 
might  be  taken  to  open  a  trade  and  commerce  with  the  country.  They 
now  only  find  a  market  for  their  wheat,  after  being  compelled  to  transport 
it  themselves  in  canoes,  (the  portage  of  the  Willhamett  in  their  way,)  at 
Fort  Vancouver,  at  the  low  price  of  50  cts.  per  bushel,  payable  in  goods  at 
50  per  cent,  advance,  whilst  the  Russians  are  paying  $1  50  this  year'in  Cali- 


m 


risk 


[24] 


14 


m 


iil 


fornia  for  their  supplies  for  "Sitka."    Tiie  quantity  annually  required  i?< 
about  25,000  bushels. 

The  entrance  of  the  Columbia  river  is  formed  by  Cape  Disappointment 
on  the  north,  in  latitude  46°  19'  north,  and  123°  59'  west  longitude, 
and  Point  Adams,  on  the  south,  in  46°  14'  north,  ai>d  123°  54'  west 
longitude,  physical  and  geographical. 

It  was  between  the  years  1780  and  1782, 1  believe,  that  Captain  Meir, 
in  ^n  English  merchant  ship  of  London,  saw  "  Cape  Disappointment," 
and  entered  the  bay  between  the  two  capes ;  but,  as  "  Chemook"  and 
"  Tongue  pcnnt"  interlock,  Captain  Meir  left  the  bay  under  the  impression 
that  it  extended  no  further  inland.  He  published  an  account  ol  his  voyage 
in  London,  in  1785 — 1786,  on  his  return,  and  called  the  boy  Deception 
bay.  The  next  year,  1783  to  1784,  Captain  Gray,  of  Boston,  in  tlie 
American'ship"  Columbia,"  entered  the  bay  and  stood  up  the  river  as  far 
OS  the  point  designated  on  the  map  as  Gray's  bay,  where  he  overhauled 
and  retitted  his  ship.  Captain  Gray  called  the  river  the  "  Columbia,"  after 
his  ship.  In  1787,  Vancouver  entered  the  river,  and  Lt.  Brougton,  in  the 
cutter  Chatham,  stood  up  the  river  as  far  as  the  bluff,  (the  old  ^ite  of  Fort 
Vancouver,)  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  site  of  the  present  fort.  But  the 
Spaniards  had  doubtless  a  knowledge  of  this  country  long  before  this  period. 
The  expedition  from  San  Bias,  in  1776,  saw  the  river,  and  ..called  it  the 
"  Oregon."  (Manuscripts  in  the  marine  archives  at  Madrid.)  The  Rus- 
sian expedition  under  fiehring,  in  1741,  did  not  come  as  far  south,  as  Cnpe 
Flattery,  in  49°  north.  As  I" have  not  the  means  at  present  of  giving  any 
further  information  of  ihp  early  discovery  of  this  part  of  the  countiy,  I  shall 
now  speak  of  its  present  appearance,  &c.,  begging  to  claim  your  atten- 
tion to  the  maps  of  the  Columbia  and  the  country  south  as  far  as  the  Rus- 
sian settlements  as  Bodega. 

In  entering  the  Columbia  river,  you  find  a  bar  extending  across  the 
channel,  (two  miles  in  width,)  from  the  north  to  the  south  shoals.  The 
shoalest  water  on  the  bar  is  four  and  a  half  fathoms ;  but  as  the  prevailing 
winds  in  winter  are  from  the  westward,  and  the  entrance  lies  exposed  to 
the  swell  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  the  bar  breaks  with  a  wind  of  any  force  if 
from  the  west  of  north  or  south  and  west  of  east.  At  present,  vessels  are  kept 
outside  for  several  days  waiting  for  clear  weather  to  run  in,  having  neither 
beacon,  buoys,  nor  lights  to  guide  them  when  close  in  with  the  shore.  This 
delay  would  be  obviated  in  a  great  measure  if  ihe  coast  was  surveyed  and 
propierly  lighted.  "Cape  Disappointment"  is  a  hi^h,  bold  promontory, 
about  400  feet  above  the  sea,  covered  with  timber  from  its  base  to  the  top. 
»*  Point  Adams"  is  low,  and  cannot  be  seen  at  a  great  distance.  The  sail- 
ing directions  which  I  shall  be  able  to  present  with  a  chart  of  the  river,  will 
more  fully  e:^plain  the  appearance  of  the  bay  and  river.  As  far  as  the 
depth  of  water  is  marked  on  the  chart,  it  may  be  fully  relied  on.  f  ca.ii....t 
Isave  this  subject  without  pointing  out  the  great  facihty  and  the  advantages- 
that  would  result  from  a  thorough  ctit  of  not  more  than  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  through  the  lowest  point  of  the  Cape  Disappointment,  from  Baker's 
bay  to  the  ocean.  The  soil  is  light,  and  the  height  not  more  than  sixty  feet 
at  the  point  proposed  ;  and  I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  a  deep  and 
safe  channel  would  soon  be  made  by  the  action  of  the  tide  (at  the  rate  of 
five  to  six  knots  an  hour)  as  it  sweeps  around  the  bay,  bringing  with  it  the 
whole  volume  of  water  of  the  Columbia  and  its  tributaries. 

Every  thing  around  the  shores  oi  Baker's  bay  shows  the  richness  of  the 


15 


[54] 


metit 

tude, 

west 

Meir, 
nent," 
"  and 
essiou 
oyage 
I'ption 
in  the 

as  far 
hauled 
,"  after 
in  the 
3f  Fort 
3ut  the 
period. 

it  the 
e  Rus- 
is  Cape 

,  I  shall 
•  atten- 
le  Rus- 

oss  the 
The 
availing 
ised  to 
;e  if 
ire  kept 
neither 
This 
cd  and 
iiontory, 
the  top. 
he  sail- 
er, will 
as  th(^ 
ca'..ii.<^t 
antages- 
lers  of  a 
Baker's 
xty  feet 
iep  nnd 
Tate  of 
|th  it  the 

of  the 


soil.  The  pines,  furs,  and  the  most  beautiful  variety  of  flowers,  grow  to  an  ex- 
traordinary size,  whilst  the  finest  grasses  are  seen  at  this  season  frhiging^tlie 
sides  of  the  hills  to  the  water's  edge.  For  the  first  ten  miles,  as  you  ascend 
the  Columbia  from  (/henook  and  Point  George,  whiqh  may,  properly  speak- 
ing, be  called  the  momh  of  the  river,  its  width  is  about  four  nules.  It  then 
narrows  to  about  one  mile,  and  continues  at  this  width  to  Vancouver,  (with 
but  two  exceptions,  for  a  mile  or  two.)  At  "  Oak  Poini"  village,  the  oak  is 
first  seen  :  from  thence  the  oak,  ash,  laurel,  cotton  wood,  beach,  alder, 
pines,  firs,  yew,  and  cedar,  are  found  to  the  falls.  Geological  formations 
at  Fort  George  are  concretions  of  shells,  sandstone,  and  plumbago.  On 
the  Willhamett,  remarkably  fine  gray  granite  is  found. 

Indiati  statistics.— The  first  tribes  of  Indians  in  Baker's  bay,  are  the 
Chenook,  on  the  north  Clatsops.  On  the  south  the  latter  live  at  Point  Adan^s 
and  on  Young's  river,  where  Lewis  and  Clark  wintered.  Both  tribes  at 
this,  time  do  not  exceed  800.  Rum  Rumley,  the  principal  chief  of  the 
Clatsops,  who  was  always  the  white  man's  friend,  and  who  rendered  every 
assistance  in  his  power  to  Lewis  and  Clark,  is  no  more ;  and,  "s  an  evidence 
of  the  effect  of  intemperance  among  these  miserable  Indians,  out  of  40 
descendant  of  this  chief  not  one  is  this  day  alive.  Chenamas  (Chenook) 
claims  authority  over  the  people  from  "  Baker's  bay"  to  the  Cowility ;  but 
Squamaqui  disputes  his  fiuthority  from  Gray's  bay  to  the  above  point.  From 
the  river  Cowility  to  the  falls  of  the  Columbia,  (see  map.)  '•  Kassenow"' 
claims  authority.  His  tribe,  since  1829,  has  lost  more  than  2,000  souls  by 
fever.  They  are  principally  "  Rea  Ratacks,"  very  erratic,  and  the  only  gocd 
hunters  on  the  river  below  the  falls,  as  all  the  other  tribes  immediately 
on  the  river  below  the  falls,  as  well  as  those  who  frequent  the  waters  of  the 
Columbia  during  the  season  of  the  salmon  and  sturgeon,  subsist  chiefly  on 
fish  and  wild  fowl ;  and  the  ease  with  which  they  procure  food,  fish,  and 
fowl,  with  the  delicious  vegetable  the  "  Wapspitoo"  and  "  Kamass"  engenders 
the  most  indolent  habits  among  these  people. 

Willhamett  or  Multonomah  tribes  live  in  the  valley  formed  by  the  range" 
of  mountains,  running  north  and  south,  in  which  Mount  Hood  and  Mount 
Vancouver  is  laid  down  in  Arrowsmith's  map,  (sometimes  called  the  Klannet 
range,  from  the  Indians  of  that  name,)  and  on  the  west  by  the  Kallamook 
and  Yamstills,  running  south  parallel  with  river  and  ocean.  In  ascending 
this  beautiful  river,  even  in  midwinter,  you  find  both  'sides  clothed  in  ever- 
green, presenting  a  more  l)eautiful  prospect  that  the  Ohio  in  June.  l*Vr  10 
to  12  miles,  on  the  left  bank,  the  river  is  low,  and  occasionally  overflows. 
On  the  right  the  land  rises  gradually  from  the  water's  edge,  covered  with 
firs,  cedar,  laurel,  and  pine.  The  oak  and  ash  is  at  this  season  covered  with 
long  moss,  of  a  pale  sage  green,  contrasting  finely  with  the  deeper  tints  of 
the  evergreens. 

The  first  tribe  of  Indiana  are  the  Kallamooks,  on  the  left  bank,  on  a  small 
stream  of  the  same  name,  30  miles  from  its  mouth  :  2d  are  Keowewall'ahs, 
alias  Tummewatas  ox  Willhametts.  This  tribe,  now  nearly  extinct,  was 
formerly  very  numerous,  and  live  at  the  falls  of  the  river,  32  miles  from  its 
mouth,  on  the  right  bank.  They  claim  the  ri^ht  of  fishing  at  the  falls,  and 
exact  a  tribute  from  other  tribes  who  come  hither  in  the  salmon  season, 
(from  May  till  October.)  Principal  chie&  deceased.  This  river  at  the 
prment  day  takes  its  name  from  this  tribe.  3d.  "  Kallapooyahs"  occupy 
lodges  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  4th.  "  Fallatrahs"  on  a  small  stream  of 
same  name,  right  or  west  bank.  5th.  Champoicho — west  bank.  6th.  Yam« 


I' ' 


I 


1 1] ; 


ili 


1*1 

IN] 


[24] 


IG 


stills— west  bank.  7th.  Leeiahs— both  sides.  8th.  Hanchoicks.  All  these  5 
tribes  speak  Kaliapooyah  diakct,  and  are  doubtless  of  that  tribe,  but  at 
present  are  divided  as  designated,  and  governed  by  chiei's  as  named.  •  All 
these  tribes  do  not  exceed  1,200.  The  ague  and  fever,  which  commenced 
on  the  Columbia  in  1829,  likewise  appeared  on  this  river  at  the  same  time. 
It  is  supposed  that  it  has  been  more  fatal  in  its  effects.  It  has  swept  off  not 
less  than  5,000  to  6,000  souls.  In  a  direction  still  further  south,  in  Tularez, 
near  St.  Francisco,  CaUfomia,  entire  villages  have  been  depopulated,  I 
am  happy  to  add,  however,  that  this  scourge  to  these  poor  Indians  is  disap- 
pearing. The  abovenamed  constitute  all  the  Indians  to  be  found  on  the 
Willhamett,  from  its  source  in  the  mountains  to  its  entrance  into  the 
Columbia,  a  distance  of  about  200  miles. 

The  brig  Owyhee,  Captain  Domines,  moored  at  the  rapids  about  a  mile 
below  the  falls,  in  12  feet  water.  Above  the  falls  there  is  doubtless  steam- 
Ijoat  navigation  for  150  miles.  For  a  distance  of  250  miles  in  extent  by 
40  in  breadth,  including  both  sides  the  river,  (6,500,000  acres,)  the  land  is 
of  the  most  superior  quality,  rich  alluvial  deposite,  yielding  in  several  in- 
stances the  first  year  60  bushels  of  fine  wheat  to  the  acre.  The  general 
aspect  of  the  plams  is  prairie,  but  well  interspersed  with  woodlands,  pre- 
senting the  most  beautiful  scenery  imaginable.  The  pastures  at  this  day 
(12th  January)  pre  covered  with  the  richest  grasses,  8  to  12  inches  high. 
I  should  be  aliiiost  afraid  to  speak  of  the  extraordinary  mildness  of  the 
climate  of  this  country,  were  I  not  enabled  to  present  you  thermometrical 
observations  at  Vancouver  and  Fort  Simpson,  in  52°  north,  and  Bodega, 
in  39°.  I  may  fairly  state  the  difference  to  be  equal  to  15°  of  latitude 
'  between  the  coasts  of  the  west  and  east  of  this  continent.  It  is  to  be  kept 
in  view,  that  the  Willhamett  is  due  south  from  the  Columbia.  I  found, 
on  my  return  to  Vancouver,  on  the  I9th  January,  that  snow  had  fallen, 
and  the  river^was  closed  with  floating  ice,  ihat  had  come  down  and  blocked 
up  the  passage.  Although  I  was  not  more  than  70  to  80  mines  south,  I 
neither  saw  snow  n6r  ice. 

I  consider  the  Willhamett  as  the  finest  grazing  country  in  the  world. 
Here  there  are  no  droughts,  as  on  the  Pampas  of  Buenos  Ayres,  or  the 
plains  of  California,  whilst  the  lands  abound  with  richer  grasses,  both  in 
winter  and  summer.  In  1818,  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  had  one  bull 
and  two  cows ;  last  year  they  salted  70,  and  have  now  upwards  of  1,000 
head  of  neat  cattle  from  this  stock.  No  comment  is  necessary  in  pre- 
senting this  fact  tp  your  notice.  The  low  grounds  of  the  Columbia  over- 
flow, and  the  highlands  are  covered  with  timber  of  great  size,  which  would 
require  immense  labor  in  clearing.  Fort  Vancouver  is  the  only  spot,  from 
Fort  George  upwards,  where  a  rarm  of  any  size  could  be  opened. 

From  the  map  of  the  country  south  of  the  Columbia,  which  I  shall  be 
able  to  prepare  from  the  rough  thon^  correct  sketches  in  my  possession, 
you  will  discover  there  are  four  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Pacific  ocean 
between  41°  33'  north  latitude  and  Columbia.  Three  of  these,  with  "Peli- 
can bay,"  in  latitude  42°  4'  north,  are  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
States,  but  are  not  laid  down  in  any  published  chart  of  the  present  day. 

Klamet  riv^r,  41°  33'  north  latitude,  123°  54'  west  longitude. 
[   West  "Rougues"  liver,  42^  26,  north  latitude,  124°  14"  west  longitude. 

West  Cowis  river,  43°  31'  north  latitude,  124°4'  west  longitude.        . 

West  Umpgua,  43°  60'  north  latitude,  123°  56'  west  longitude. 

Last  year,  183*^,  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  schooner  "  Cadborough," 


17 


[24] 


these  5 
,  but  at 
A.  AH 
imenced 
06  time. 
t  oflF  not 
rularez, 
ated.  I 
is  disap- 
i  on  the 
into  the 

t  a  mile 
s  steam- 
ttent  by 
3  land  is 
veral  in- 
general 
ids,  pre- 
this  day 
les  high. 
«  of  the 
•metrical 
Bodega, 
latitude 
D  be  kept 
I  found, 
d  fallen, 
blocked 
south,  I 

e  world. 
5,  or  the 
I,  both  in 
one  bull 
of  1,000 
in  pre- 
)ia  over- 
;h  would 
)ot,  from 

shall  be 
)ssession, 
ic  ocean 
ith  "Peli- 
e  United 
t  day. 


)ngitnde. 

I.        • 

t 

)orough," 


tillered  two  of  these  rivers  with  8  feet  water.  "  Pelican  bay"  is  a  good 
harbor.  From  the  intbrmation  of  Mr.  Young  and  other  trappers,  1  ain 
told  the  Umpqua  is  nearly  the  same  size  as  the  Willhamett.  The  lands 
are  equally  good  and  well  timbered.  The  river  called  "  Rougues,"  or 
sometimes  Smith's  river,  abounds  with  the  finest  timber  west  of  the  Rocky 
mountains ;  and  it  may  be  fairly  estimated  that  the  valleys  of  the  rivere 
certainly  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,*  contain  at  least  14,000,000 
of  acres  of  land  of  first  quality,  equal  to  the  best  lands  of  Missouri  or  Illi- 
nois. The  Indians  west  of  the  Rocky  mounUiins,  between  the  Columbia 
and  42°  north  latitude,  may  be  estimated  at  100,000,  two-thirds  of  whom 
are  armed  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  North  of  the  Columbia,  along 
the  coast  to  Cape  Flattery,  the  "  Chehulis"  Indians  inhabit  the  country. 
They  have  a  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Indians  of  Baker's  bay,  although 
theyspoak  a  different  dialect.  On  the  "  Cowility,"  (^see  map,)  which  falls 
into  the  Columbia,  there  are  a  few  Indians  of  the  Klackutuck  tribe.  Coal 
has  been  found  here.  Dr.  McLaughlin  now  compels  the  (^anfidians, 
whose  term  of  service  expires,  and  who  are  anxious  to  become  farmers, 
to  settle  on  this  river,  as  it  lies  to  the  north  of  the  Columbia.  The  rea- 
son he  assigns  is,  that  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia  river  will  belong  to 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  If  one  side  of  the  river  is  claimed,  with  the 
same  propriety  they  might  claim  both  sides.  The  navigation  of  the  Colum- 
bia is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company^  without  this,  they 
have  no  passage  into  the  heart  of  their  finest  possessions  in  the  interior, 
New  Caledonia,  &c.  1  loiow  not  what  p  jlitical  influence  they  command  ; 
but  this  monopoly  is  very  wealthy ;  and,  when  the  question  of  our  western 
lines  of  territory  is  settled,  they  (the  Hudson  Bay  Company)  will  make  the 
most  strenuous  efforts  to  retain  free  navigation  of  the  Columbia — more  im- 
portant to  them  than  the  free  navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence  is  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States. 

1  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  topography  of  "  PugUCs  sound'^ 
and  urge,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  that  this  point  should  never  be 
abandoned.  If  the  United  States  claim,  as  I  hope  tbey  ever  will,  at  least 
OS  far  as  49  degrees  of  north  latitude,  running  due  west  from  the  «  Lake  of 
the  Woeds,^^  on  the  above  parallel  we  shall  take  in  "  Pugitt's  sound."  In 
a  military  point  of  view,  it  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  United  States. 
If  it  were  in  the  hands  of  any  foreign  power,  especially  Great  Britain, 
with  the  influence  she  could  command  (through  the  Hudson  Bay  Company) 
over  the  Indians  at  the  north,  on  those  magnificent  straights  of  "  Juan  de 
Tuca,"  a  force.of  20,000  men  could  be  brought  by  water  iii  large  canoes  to 
the  sound,  "  Pttgitfs,"  in  a  few  days,  from  thence  to  the  Columbia ;  the  dis- 
tance is  but  two  days'  march,  via  the  Cowility.  I  hope  our  claim  to  54°  of 
north  latitude  will  never  be  abandoned ;  at  all  events,  we  should  never  mve 
up  Pugitt's  sound,  nor  permit  the  free  navigation  of  the  Columbia,  unless, 
indeed,  a  fair  equivalent  was  oflfered,  such  as  the  free  navigation  of  the' 
St.  Lawrence.  I  am  now  more  convinced  than  ever  of  the  importance  of 
the  Columbia  river,  even  as  a  place  where,  for  eight  months  in  the  year, 
our  whalers  from  the  coast  of  Japan  might  resort  for  supplies,  which,  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years,  would  be  abundant,  if  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  could  receive  from  the  Grovernment  the  protection  due  to  them.  A 
jcustom-house,  established  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  would  eff!ectually 

•  Exclusive  of  the  Columbia  and  Willhamett, 


mmmmm 


■IP 


[24] 


18 


T 

r? ' ' 

I  ft 


i' 


protect  the  American  trader  from  the  raonojioly  which  the  Htidson  Hiiy 
Company  enjoy  at  this  time,  and  a  singh  mihtary  post  would  be  sufficient 
to  ^ive  effect  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  protect  our  citizens  in 
their  lawful  avocations. 

We  descended  the  Columbia  in  the  Loriot  on  the  23d  of  January,  and 
found  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  ships  Nereide  and  Llima  still  in  "  Baker's 
bay."  having  been  detained  since  the  22d  of  December.  On  the  '29th  of 
January,  a  violent  gale  from  the  southeast  commenced  before  day  light. 
On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  Loriot  parted  both  cables,  and  was  driven 
ashore.  We  received  every  iissistuice  from  the  Nereide  and  Llama,  In 
two  or  three  days  the  Loriot  was  got  afloat.  In  the  mean  time,  Captain 
Bancroft  went  up  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  good  chain- 
cable,  stream,  and  anchor.  On  the  10th  of  February,  the  bar  was  smooth 
and  the  wind  from  the  eastward.  AVe  got  under  way  with  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company's  ships  Nereide  and  Lliima,  and  crossed  the  bar  safely,  and  store! 
on  our  way  towards  »  Bodega,"  the  Russian  settlement  in  California. 

Nothing  material  occurred  from  the  day  we  left  Columbia  utrtil  the 
mornino^  of  the  I9th  of   February,    when  we  made  the   land  off  thd 
"Presidia  Ross.'    Tlie  wind  being  light,  I  took  the  boat  at  8  miles 
distant,  and  pjissed  in  lor  the  fort.     About  three  miles  distant  from  the 
Xjoriot,  I  met  three    Bydackcus  coming  off  to  us.     An  officer  deiivere/d 
a  polite  message  from  the  Russian  Governor,  and  immediately  returned 
to  the  shore  with  me.     About  2  o'clock  1  landed,  and  met  a  hospital  le 
reception  from  Mr.  Peter  Rostrometinotf,  tJ»e  Russian  military  and  civil 
comunuidant  of  the  Russian  American  Fur  Company.      The  Presidia 
Ross  lies  in  38°  40'  north  latitnde,  immediately  on  the  ocean,  on  a  hill 
sloping  gradually  towards  the  sea.    The  rear  is  crowned  by  a  range  of 
hills  1,500  leet  in  height,  covered  with  {unes,  firs,  cedar,  and  laurel,  ren- 
dering the  position  of  the  fort  highly  picturesque.    The  fort  is  an  enclo' 
sure  100  yards  S(]uare,  picketted  with  limber  8  inches  thick  by  18  feet  high^ 
mounts  four  12  lb.  carronadeson  eadi  angle,  and  four  6  lb.  brass  howitzer-s 
fronting  the  principal  gate ;  has  two  octangular  block-houses,  with  loop 
holes  for  musketry,  and  8  buildings  within  the  enclosure  and  48  outside, 
heside  a  large  boat-house  at  the  landing  place,  blacksmith's  shop,  carpen' 
ters  and  coopers'  shop,  and  a  large  stable  for  200  cows,  the  number  usually 
milked.    The  Russians  first  settled  at  "Bodega,''  about  18  miles  south  of 
Ross,  in  1813.    it  was  thought  to  afford  facilities  for  ship-building,  and  a 
good  point  for  seal  fishing  and  "  sea  otter"  hunting.    Two  vessels  of  up- 
wards of  two  hundred  tons  have  been  built  here,  and  several  smaller  ves- 
sels of  25  to  40  tons.     The  oak,  however,  *of  which  these  vessels  have  been 
built,  is  not  good,  although  it  is  an  evergreen,  and  resembles  in  grain  the 
"  post  oak ;"  it  is  of  far  inferior  quality.    This  establishmentof  theiiussiaus 
seems  now  to  be  kept  up  principally  as  a  "  point  d'appui ;"  and  hereafter 
it  may  be  urged  in  furtherance  of  the  claims  of  the  "Imperial  Autocrat'^ 
to  ttiis  country,  having  now  been  in  possession  of  Ross  and  "^ Bodega"  for 
24  years,  without  molestation.    Two  ships  annually  come  down  for  wheal 
from  (Sitka.)    Their  cargoes  are  purchfised  in  California;  like*vise,  tallow 
and  jerked  beeC^  for  Nils  on  the  Russian  American  Fur  Company,  St.  Peters' 
Inii^.    Tl)€se  bills  fall  intp  the  hands  of  the  Aroerjean  traders  from  Boston 
and  the  Sandwich  islands,  who  receive  these  bills, irom  the  Califbrougos  as 
nioney  in  payment  of  goods.    Ross  contains  about  400  souls :  60  of  whom 
are  Russians  and  "Fins,"  80  '^Kodiacka,"  the  xemainder  Indians  of  the 
neighborhood,  who  work  well  with  the  plough  and  uckle.    All  the  Rus' 


19 


[M] 


:n 


» 


for 


sians  and  Pinlimders  are  artisans.  Wages  $35  to  $40  per  annum.  They 
export  butter  and  cheese  to  Sitka.  But  few  skins  (seals)  are  now  taken — 
no  sea  otters.  This  year  the  farm  is  much  increased.  240  fanegas, 
equal  to  600  bushels,  ol  wheat  is  sown.  It  generally  yields  12  bushels  for 
one.  Stock,  1,500  head  of  neat  cattle,  SOO  horses  and  mules,  400  to  500 
sheep,  and  3(K)  hogs. 

Climate,  ^*c. — Within  the  last  three  years  a  very  material  change  has 
taken  place  in  the  climate  along  this  coast.  Formerly,  in  the  months  of 
May,  June,  July,  August,  September,  and  October,  the  winds  prevailed 
from  northwest  to  west ;  November,  pecemher,  January,  February,  Marclt, 
and  April,  southwest  to  south  southeiist  winds  prevailed ;  but  for  three 
years  past  the  winds  arc  exactly  reversed.  It  is,  consequently,  much 
colder  in  winter  than  formerly.  In  May  and  June  fogs  settle  on  the  hills 
near  Ross,  and  produce  rust  in  wheat. 

Therinometrical  observations  at  Ross,  in  1836,  Fahrenheit.  Latitude 
38°  41'  north. 

1830,  maximum  66°,  average  12  M. 

"       minimum  43° 

"       maximum 

"       minimum 

"       maximum 

*'       minimum 

maximum 

minimum 

maximum 


In  October, 

November, 
(( 

December, 


Jauuurv,      1837 


(( 


February, 


72^ 
38° 
62° 
36° 
5S° 
38° 
56° 
43P 


"  "       muumum 

7V/«6er.  —  Oaks,  four  species— two  are  evergre^ni ;  sweet-scented  laurel, 
excellent  wood  ;  cedar  of  Lebanon  ;  "  Douglass  pine"  grows  to  an  extra- 
ordinary size  ;  common  pines,  firs,  alder,  and  the  red  wood,  a  species  of 
cedar,  the  l)est  wood  in  tl»e  country. 

An  agent  of  the  Russian  Government  was  liere  last  year.  He  c^me 
through  via  {^iberia  from  St.  Petersburg,  and  visited  nil  the  posts  in  Kam- 
.schatka,  and  on  the  northwest  coast.  Me  got  perti^ission  irom  ibe  late 
General  Figaroa  (then  commandant  general  of  California)  to  put  iip  a  large 
buikUng  on  the  hsuy  of  St.  Fnuicisco,  ostensibly  to  be  used  as  a  granary  to 
receive  the  wheat  purchased  in  California  ;  but,  in  effect,  it  was  intended 
as  a  block-house,  and  was  to  have  been  made  defensible.  The  timber  was 
got  out,  and  now  lies  ready  to  be  used.  General  Figaroa  died,  and  his 
succeissorj  "  Chico,''  prohibited  the  Bussiqns'  frosm  erecting  their  blpc.k- 
how$e 

Mr.  Rostrome(ino.ff  readily  granted  npe  permission  for  the  party  that 
accompanied  me  from  the  Columbia  to  land  at  Bodeig^.  L'e  also  fHrniphq<l 
ahoiisf)  for  their,  use  until  their  cattle  could  be  cotll^ct^d,  and  provided  me 
with  horses;  and  guides  to  piroceed  by  land  to  the  bay  of  St.  Fraoqisoo. 
Of  my  proceedings  in  Californio,  I  must  beg  to  refer  to  the  commuoiica^ipn 
which  I  shall  havtethe  honoT  to.  lay  beiore  3'ou  in  a  few  days,  accompanied 
by  a  chart  of  tl>e  Oolupqbia,  he.     ' 

In  the  mean  jtijip^,  X  h^kve  the  .honor  to  remain  your  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, WILLIAM  A.  SLACLM. 

To  the  Hon.  Jqbw  Fprbyitih, 

StcTHs^^f  9f  State. 


.iji.ji>ri 


—PIP 


[34] 


\ 


!  I 


: 


i , 


20 

(A.) 


OiiKuoN  Territory, 

Wallametle  Hettlimmt. 


Articles  of  agreement  made  and  entered  into  this  Vilh  day  nf  Jnmiartjj 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hvndred  and  thirty-seven. 

Whereas  we,  the  undersigned,  settlers  upon  the  Wallamette  river,  are 
fully  convinced  of  the  importance  and  necessity  of  having  neat  cattle  of  our 
own,  in  order  successfully  to  carri^  on  our  farms,  and  gain  n  comfortable 
livelihood ;  and  whereas  we  find  it  impossible  to  purchase  them  here,  as 
all  the  cattle  in  the  country  belong  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  they 
refusing  to  sell  them  under  any  circumstances  ;  and  as  we  believe  that  the 
possession  of  cattle  would  not  only  benefit  us  personally,  but  will  materially 
benefit  the  whole  settlement,  we,  the  undersigned,  do  therefore  agree— 

1st.  To  avail  ourselves  of  an  offer  of  W.  A.  Slacum,  Esq.,  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  to  take  passage  in  the  American  brig  Loriot,  Captain  Ban- 
croft, free  of  charge,  to  proceed  to  California,  to  purchase  cattle  for  our- 
selves and  all  our  neighbors  who  choose  to  join  us  in  this  enterprise,  either 
by  accompanying  us  themselves  or  furnishing  the  means  of  purchasing 
cattle  in  California. 

2d.  We  agree  to  contribute  funds  according  to  our  means,  making  u 
common  stock  concern,  subject  to  the  following  conditions :  The  expenses 
of  all  those  who  go  to  California  are  to  be  borne  by  the  company,  calcu- 
lating the  time  so  employed  at  the  rate  of  twenty  dollars  per  month  ;  pro- 
visions likewise  to  be  paid  by  the  company. 

3d.  The  wages  of  the  men  thus  employed  are  to  be  calculated  as  so 
much  money,  and  each  one  is  to  be  credited  accordingly ;  and  each  and 
every  member  of  the  company  shall  have  his  portion  of  the  cattle  which 
may  arrive  safely  at  the  Wallamette,  there  to  be  divided  agreeably  to  capital 
and  wages  employed  in  the  enterprise. 

4th.  All  those  who  go  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  to  California,  hereby 
bind  themselves  to  return  to  the  Wallamette  with  the  cattle,  and  to  use 
their  best  endeavors  to  protect  the  same. 

5th.  We  hereby  agree  that  Ewing  Young  shall  be  leader  of  the  party, 
and  P.  L.  Edwards,  treasurer,  and  that  they  shall  be  joint  purchasers  of 
the  cattle. 

6th.  If  any  man  desert  the  company  in  California,  he  shall  forfeit  all  wages 
which  he  njay  have  earned.  If,  after  the  arrival  of  the  party  in  California, 
any  man  shall  choose  to  labor  tor  his  personal  benefit,  he  shall  have  liberty 
to  do  so ;  provided  that  he  shall  be  bound  to  invest  the  proceds  of  his  labor 
in  the  common  stock,  and  he  shall  not  enter  into  any  engagements  which 
shiJl  prevent  him  from  leaving  when  required ;  but  such  person  shall  not 
be  entitled  to  any  remimeration  from  the  company  for  the  time  so  em- 
ployed. 

EWING  YOUNG, 
P,  L.  EDWARDS, 
JAMES  A.  O'NEAL, 
his 
.  JOHN  X  TURNER, 
mark. 


► 


I'  I 


t21 


[24] 


WEBLEY  J.  HAWKHURST, 
CALVIN  TIBBETTS, 
LAWRENCE  CARMICHAEL, 

his 
PIERRE  X  DEPAU, 

mark. 
GEORGE  GAY, 
WILLIAM  J.  BAILEY, 

his 
EMAT  X  ERaUIETTE, 
mark. 


[84] 


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C. 


[24J 


Wallambtte  Sktti,emrnt, 

January  2,  1837. 

Gentlemen  :  Whereas  we,  the  members  of  the  Oregon  Temperance 
Society,  have  learned  with  no  conpmon  interest,  and  with  feelings  of  deep 
regret^  that  you  are  now  preparing  a  distillery  icrt  the  purpose  of  manu- 
fiicturing  ardent  spirits  to  be  sold  in  this  vicinity ;  and  whereas  we  are 
most  fully  convinced  that  the  vending  of  spirituous  liquors  will  more 
effectually  paralyse  our  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  temperance  than  any 
other,  or  all  other  obstacles  that  can  be  thrown  in  our  way ;  and  whereas 
we  do  feel  a  lively  and  intense  interest  in  the  success  o(  the  temperance 
cause,  believing,  as  we  do,  that  the  prosperity  and  interests  of  this  rising 
iuid  infant  settlement  will  be  materially  affected  by  it,  both  as,  respects  their 
temporal  and  spiritual  welfare ;  and  that  the  poor  Indian,  whose  case  is 
even  now  indescribably  wretched,  will  be  made  far  more  so  by  the  use 
of  ardent  spirits ;  and  whereas,  gentlemen,  you  are  not  ignorant  that  the 
Inws  of  the  United  States  prohibit  American  citizens  from  selling  ardent 
spirits  to  Indians,  under  the  penalty  of  a  heavy  fine;  and,  as  you  do  not 
pretend  to  justify  your  enterprise,  but  urge  pecuniary  necessity  as  the 
reason  of  your  procedure ;  and  as  we  do  hot,  cannot^  think  it  will  be  of 
pecuniary  interest  to  prosecute  this  business,  if,  as  you  have  determined  to 
do,  you  discontinue  it  the  present  season ;  and  as  we  are  not  enemies,  but 
friends,  and  do  not  wish,  under  existing  circumstances,  that  you  should 
sacrifice  one  single  penny  of  the  money  you  have  already  expended,  we 
do,  therefore,  for  the  above,  and  various  other  reasons  we  could  urge, 

Resolved,  \st,  That  we,  the  undersigned,  do  most  earnestly  &n6  feelingly 
request  you,  gentlemen,  to  abandon  your  enterprise  for  ever. 

/iesolved,  2dly,  That  we  will,  and  do  hereby  agree,  to  pay  you  |he  sum 
you  have  already  expended,  if  you  will  give  us  the  avails  of  your  expendi- 
uire,  or  deduct  the  value  of  them  from  the  bill  of  expenses. 

Resolved,  3dly.  That  a  committee  of  one  be  appointed  to  make  known  the 
views  of  this  society,  and  present  our  request  to  Messrs.  Young  and  Car- 
niichael. 

Resolved,  \tkty,  That  we,  the  undersigned,  will  pay  the  sums  severally 
affixed  to  oiu*  names  to  Messrs.  Young  and  Carmichael,  on  or  lefore  the 
31st  day  of  March,  1837,  the  better  to  enable  them  to  give  op  their  enter- 
prise. 

Resolved,  hthly^  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  settlement  who  are  not 
attached  to  this  society  shall  be  invited  to  affix  their  names  to  this  request, 
and  to  give  what  they  feel  free  to  give  for  the  promotion  of  this  object 


JOSEPH  GERVAIS 
XAVIER  !,A  DESCOSTE 
DESPORTS  MACKAY 
JOHN  HORD 
JOHN  TURNER 
CALVIN  TIBBETS 
WINSLOW  ANDERSON 
CHARLES  PLANTE 
CHARLES  RONDEAU 
JOSEPH  DE  LOR     - 
^  *>  «  s  - .  CHARLES  ROE 

238i9sk 


6  bushels  of 


00 

wheat. 

8  00 

4  00 

4  00 


G  bushels  of  wheat. 


4 

4 


00 
00 


[84] 


*i4 


I 


I 


S.  H.  SMITH  -  .  -  -  $4  0<> 

JAMES  O'NIEL         -  -  -  -  6  (M) 

WEBLEY  J.  HAWKHURST  -  -  5  00 

ANDRES  PECOR, 
LOUIS  FORCIA, 
ELISHA  EZEKIGL, 
ETTIENNE  LUCIA. 

The  undersigned  jointly  promise  to  pay  the  balance,  be  the  same  raoie 
or  le;ss. 

JASON  LEE, 
DANIEL  LEE, 
CYRUS  SHEPPARD, 
P.  S.  EDWARDS. 

The  undersigned  are  not  members  of  the  Oregon  Temperance  Society, 
but  ccncur  in  urging  the  foregoing  request. 

PIERRE  DEPAU, 

A.  ERdUETTE, 

JOHN  BAPTISTE  PERROULT, 

GEORGE  GAY, 

P.  BILLiaUE, 

CHARLES  SCHE  JTE, 

WILLIAM  CARMING, 

T.  J.  HUBBARD        -  -  -  -         $8  00 

Messrs.  Young'  &  Carmichael. 

Note. — ^T.  J.  Hubbard  has  since  joined  the  temperance  society. 


Wallamette,  January  13,  1837. 

Gentlemen  :  Having  taken  into  consideration  your  request  to  abolish 
our  enterpriNe  in  manufacturing  ardent  spirits,  we  therefore  doBgreetostop 
our  proceedings  for  the  present. 

But,  gentlemen,  the  reasons  for  our  first  beginning  such  an  undertaking 
were  the  innumerable  difficulties  and  tyrannising  oppression  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  here,  under  the  absolute  authority  of  Dr.  John  McLaughlin, 
who  has  treated  us  with  more  disdain  than  any  American  citizen  of  feeling 
can  support.  But  as  there  are  now  some  favorable  circumstances  occurred 
that  we  can  get  along  without  making  spirituous  liquors,  we  resolve  to  stop 
the  manufacturing  of  it  for  the  present. 

P.  S. — Gentlemen,  we  do  not  feel  it  consistent  with  our  feelings  to  re- 
ceive any  recompense  whatever  fot  our  expenditure,  but  we  aie  thankful 
to  the  society  for  their  offer. 

We  remain,  &c.  vours, 

YOlfNG  &  CARMICHAEL. 

To  the  Oregon  Temperance  Society. 


35 


[24] 


TTiermometrical  observatioiis  taken  at  Fort    Fa/icoaver,  IcUkude  45°  37' 

fiorth. 


' 


1833,  June,    Minimum  .  A.  M.  52° 

July,           do.  do.  47° 

August,       do.  do.  52° 

September,  do.  do.  48° 

'      October,      do.  do.  35° 

November,  do.  do.  30° 

December,  do.  do.  09° 

1534,  January,  do.  do.  06° 
February,  do.  do.  28° 
March,  do.  do.  30° 
April,  do.  6  do.  32° 
May,  do.  do.  42° 
June,  do.  do.  49° 
July,  do.  do.  55° 
August,  do.  do.  49° 
September,  do.  do.  46° 
October,  do.  do.  36° 
November,  do.  do.  31° 
December,  do.  do.  18° 

1535,  January,  do.  do.  ^^° 
February,  do.  do.  28® 
March,        do.  do.  31° 

1836,  April,  do.  7  do.  40° 
May,  do.  do.  42° 
June,  do.  do.  4S° 
July,  do.  do.  65° 
August,  do.  do.  54° 
September,  doi.  'io.  40° 
October,  do.  do.  41° 
November,  do.  do.  29° 
Decemlier,  do.  do.  16° 

1837,  January,     do.  do.  22° 


Maximum, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
da 
do. 
do. 
do. 
.do. 
do. 
dov 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do, 
do. 
dov 
do. 
do. 
dot 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


12  M. 
do. 
do« 
do. 

3  P.  M. 
do. 
do» 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
dok 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 

4  P.  M. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 


660 
89° 
83° 
81° 
73° 
62° 
52° 
43° 
64° 
66° 
83° 
86° 
90° 
1*3° 
86° 
86° 
73° 
61° 
49° 
52° 
58° 
61° 
68° 
-81° 
83° 
97° 
98° 
86° 
81° 
61° 
53° 
48° 


Bon 
)in, 

led 


le- 

lul 


C. 

Amount  of  Mr.  Slacnm's  account,  as  made  out  at  the  Depart- 
ment of  State         .-->-.    ^5,969  74 

From  which  the  following  deductions  have  been  made  at  the 
same,  viz : 

•  From  item  No.  14,  one-third  of  the  amount,  l)eing 

for  board,  &c,  of  servant,  not  allowed      -  -      $9  08 

♦  The  servant  abovu  alluded  to,  and  on  whose  account  the  above  deductions  arc  made,  I 
carried  with  me  I'roiu  this  District  lo  Mexico..  ULs  expenses  were  only  charged  to  the  Gk)v- 
cruiueiit  from  tiie  coiiunencemcnt  of  my  journey  from  the  we<t  coast  of  America  until  my 
return  to  this  city.  He  is  a  native  citizen  of  the  United  States,  a  muu  of  well-tried  fidelity, 
coura{E[c,  and  integrity ;  and  1  could  noi,  therofore,  think  of  leaving  him  alone,  a  stranger,  in 
a  foreign  and  dangerous  country.  W.  A.  S. 


r^4] 


^6 


F^rom  item  No.  15,  one-flrird  of  the  ttmount,  being  for 
stage-fare  of  servant  from  Mexico  td  Vera  Cruz    - 

From  item  ^io.  16,  one-third;  being  for  passage  of  ser- 
vant to  New  York  .... 

From  item  for  expenses  in  Mexico,  one-third  for  the 
proportion  of  servant        .... 

From  item  for  expenses  in  and  from  New  York  to 
Washington,  for  the  same  ... 

From  item  for  hire  of  the  servant,  the  hire  and  ex- 
penses of  whom  is  allowed  from  the  period  of  the 
commencement  of  the  journey  of  Mr.  Slncum,  in 
execution  of  the  duty  confided  to  him,  to  that  of 
his  arrival  in  Mexico,  when  it  is  considered  he 
Gould  have  dispensed  with  his  services 


$A7  83 

61  66 

3  66 

9  66 


6  00 

- —      $137  89 


$5;831  85 


The  amount  of  expenses  in  the  within  account  greatly  exceeds  that 
anticipated  ;  it  not  having  been  contemjdated  that  Mr.  Slacnm  would  have 
to  charter  a  vessel  at  the  Sandwich  islands  for  the  purpose  of  reaching  the 
Columbia  river ;  but,  inasmuch  as  it  appears  that  this  was  done  by  him 
after  a  fruitless  attempt  to  go  up  the  coast  in  a  small  vessel,  hired  on  the 
coast  of  Mexi^^o,  in  his  anxiety  to  perform  the  duties  intrusted  to  him,  1 
have  approved  the  account,  and  submit  it  to  the  President  for  his  a|$pro- 
bation. 

Department  op  State, 

Nffvember  13,  1837. 

JOHN  FORSYTH. 
Approved : 

M.  VAN  BURKN. 


DEDUCTIONS. 

From  No.  14,  one- third  of  the  amount,  being  for  board,  ifcc.  of 
a  servant  at  Mexico,  not  allowed      -  -  -  -         $9  08 

From  No.  15,  one-third,  being  for  stage-fare  from  Mexico  to 
Vera  Cruz 47  83 

From  No.  16,  one-third,  being  for  passage  of  servant  to  New 
York  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  61  6(i 

From  item  for  expenses  in  Mexico,  one-third,  for  proportion  of 
servant        -  -  -  -  -  -  -  3  66 

From  item  for  expenses  in  and  from  New  York  to  Washing- 
ton, for  the  same      -  -  -  -        .    -  -  9  66 

From  item  for  hire  of  servant,  the  hire  and  expenses  of  whom 
is  allowed  from  the  period  of  the  comraencemr  nt  of  the  jour- 
ney of  Mr.  Slacum,  in  the  execution  of  the  duty  confided  to 
him,  to  that  of  his  arrival  in  Mexico,  when  it  is  considered 
he  could  have  dispensed  with  his  services   -  -  -  6  0(1 


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No.  1. 

PfiTic,  June  7, 1836. 

Silt:  Ihav^the  honor  to  acquaint  you  with  my  having  reached  this 
place  a  few  days  sihCe,  on  my  way  to  the  Orowti.  f  cotild  not  procdre  a 
vessel  at  Guaymas,  togo  up  the  coast,  therefore  felt  compelled  (o  attempt 
the  journey  by  land,  intending-to  cross  the  Rio  Colorado,  in  113°  west,  and 
33°  north  latitude.  I  entertained  some  fears  of  not  being  able  to  cross  the 
river,  and  two  drtys  ago  met  Dr.  William  Keith,  late  United  States  Consul  at 
Petic.  Hehadjustretumedfrom  Upper  California.  Inanswer  to  my  inquiries 
as  to  the  difficulties  of  the  route,  at  thisseason  of  the  year,  he  answered  me 
thus :  "  From  the  Augua  Salada,  to  the  Tinaga  Alta,  is  a  distance  of  ^ 
English  leagues,  Without  water.  From  thence  to  the  river  Gila  you  are  Mill 
without  water.  That  at  the  Tinaga  Alta,  is  collected  during  the  railiy 
season  in  the  rocks.  We  had  great  difficulty  in  watering  our  animals,  and 
Don  Silvestte  dc  la  Portilla,  who  followed  four  days  after  in  our  track,  in- 
formed us  the  Water  had  given  out;  consequently  you  would  have  a  journey 
of  at  least  55  leagues  to  perform,  without  watering  your  horses.  From  ihc 
?Oth  of  Apiil,  until  the  20th  of  August,  Grand  river  is  not  in  a  condition 
to  crosis.  1  crossed  on  the  15th  of  April  last,  and  found  the  river  consider- 
ably swolen ;  in  twelve  hours  it  rose  4  J  feet,  and  it  continues  to  rise  until 
the  15th  of  July.  On  either  side  of  the  river  for  the  distance  of  from  3  to 
4  leagues,  it  is  low,  level,  and  muddy,  and  soon  begins  to  overflow.  The 
journey  at  this  season  of  the  year  is  impracticable;  there  is  no  case  existing 
of  its  having  been  done.  In  fact,  no  one  who  is  aware  of  the  situation  of 
the  part  where  travellers  are  obliged  to  cross  Grand  river,  would  attempt  it, 
unless  in  case  of  life  and  death."  From  the  above  statement  of  Dr.  Keith, 
I  feel,  with  the  greatest  decree  of  reluctance,  compelled  to  abandon  the 
journey  by  land.  I  shall  return  to  Guaymas  immediately,  and  hope  I  may 
find  a  vessel  of  some  size  in  which  1  can  beat  up  the  coast. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  &c.  &.C., 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Forsyth, 

Secretary  of  i^cUe,  Washington. 


No.  2. 


Guaymas,  JtUy  7, 1836. 

Si  R :  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  you  on  the  7th  ultimo,  from  Petic,  on 
lire  subject  of  my  route  to  the  Oregon,  and  the  cause  of  its  impracticability 
at  Hiis  season  of  the  year. 

I  have  now  to  acquaint  you  with  my  having  chartered  a  small  vesfiel  of 
the  country,  of  12f  |  tons,  in  which  I  embark  this  day.  I  ahnost  feair  \ 
shall  not  be  able  to  work  up  to  windward  on  the  northwest  coast,  as  the 
vessel  is  so  very  small.  If,  however,  I  ishould  be  blown  off  the  coast,  I  must 
run  for  the  Sandwich  islands,  and  then  do  the  best  I  can  to  get  into  Che 
(coast)  river.  No  exertion  shall  be  wanting  on  my  part  to  execute  the  trust 
reposed  in  me. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  d&c.  &c., 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 
To  the  Hon.  John  Forsyth, 

Secrtlary  of  tState,  WasKingKm. 


[•24] 


28 


No.  3. 


Mazatlan,  July  27,  1836. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  hand  you,  enclosed,  duplicates  of  my  respects 
of  the  7lh  of  June,  from  Petic,  and  7th  of  July,  from  Guaymas.  1  sailed 
from  the  latter  port  on  the  7th  inst.,  in  the  schooner  Loretano,  of  twelve 
tons.  This  small  vessel  was  the  only  one  I  could  procure  to  prosecute  the 
voyage  to  the  Oregon.  Off  Cape  St.  Lucar,  we  encountered  such  tempes- 
tuous weather  that  1  have  been  compelled  to  put  in  here  in  distress,  water 
started,  and  leaking  badly.  VVhen  I  tell  you  the  Loretano  was  formerly 
the  long-boat  of  the  ship  James  Munroe,  of  New  York,  you  will  understand 
the  size  of  my  ship,  in  which  I  have  attempted  to  get  to  the  river.  After 
navigating  about  four  hundred  miles  in  her  in  this  gulf,  I  feel  satisfied 
she  will  never  beat  to  the  windward  a  distance  of  two  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred miles  against  the  northwest  winds,  which  blow  with  great  violence 
at  this  season  of  the  year  on  the  coast;  and  1  assure  you,  sir,  it  is  no  sine- 
cure to  be  out  now,  on  any  part  of  the  coast,  in  so  small  a  craft.  I  have 
just  heard  that  an  EngUsh  barque,  the  "Falcon,"  is  lying  at  La-Paz, 
loading  pearl  shells  for  Canton.  She  will  touch  at  the  Sandwich  islands.  1 
shall,  therefore,  cross  over  to  La-Paz,  and  take  passage  in  her  to  Oahu.  This 
will  be  my  last  hope  of  being  able  to  reach  the  river  this  season.  How- 
ever, I  feel  confident  of  being  on  the  banks  of  the  Oregon  by  the  first  of 
November,  and  back  in  time  to  make  my  report  to  the  Department  of  State 
before  the  adjournment  of  next  Congress.  I  have  been  unfortunate  hereto- 
fore in  both  my  essays.  I  trust  I  shall  be  able  now  to  get  from  the  Sand- 
wich islands  to  the  river,  without  any  further  difficulty. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  &c.  &c., 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 
To  the  honorable  John  Forsyth, 

Secretary  of  Slate,  Washington. 


No.  4. 


Falcon,  off  San  Blas,  ' 
October  10,  183G. 

Sir:  I  have  been  unavoidably  detained  in  California  until  this  time. 
We  sail,  however,  this  day,  for  the  Sandwich  islands.  I  hope  to  be  there 
by  the  1st  proximo,  and  by  the  10th  of  December  on  the  banks  of  the 
Oregon. 

I  nave  forwarded  to  Mr.  Ellis,  in  Mexico,  a  claim  against  the  Govern- 
ment of  Mexico,  evidently  of  the  most  just  and  plain  diaracter ;  and  al- 
though I  have  every  confidence  in  the  ability  and  friendly  disposition  of 
Mr.  Ellis  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  tv,  get  the  claims  of  his  country- 
men acknowledged,  I  could  still  have  wished  to  have  gone  to  Mexico,  to 
urge,  in  person,  the  claim  in  question,  amounting  to  nearly  ten  thousand 
dollars.  But  the  duty  that  has  been  assigned  me,  'I  shall  endeavor  to 
accomplish  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Government,  to  the  postponement  of 
all  matters  of  a  private  nature. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  &c.  &c., 

WILUAM  A.  SLACITM. 

To  the  honorable  John  Forsyth, 

Secretary  of  State,  Washing-ton. 


No.  5. 


[24] 


^I. 


Oahu,  Sandwich  Islands, 

'  Avvember  24, 1835. 

Sir:  I  liavelhe  honor  to  acquaint  yon  that  I  arrived  here  on  the  6th 
instant,  from  Iiower  California,  via  Sun  Bias.  To-morrow  I  sail  for  the 
</olumbia  river,  in  the  American  brig  Loriot,  Captain  Bancroft,  and  I  may 
fairly  calculate  on  being  at  Fort  George  in  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

My  coming  hither  has  very  much  facihtated  my  views,  and  I  have  re- 
ceived information  connected  with  American  interests  in  the  Oregon  of  the 
highest  importance. 

I  have  chartered  the  brig  Loriot  at  $700  per  month,  as  per  enclosed 
memorandum  of  agreement,  as  I  must  be  independent  of  the  Hudson  Bay. 
Company,  who  are  in  possession  of  four  forts  on  tlie  Columbia,  and  two  on 
the  Willhamett,  and  they,will,  doubtless,  endeavor  to  throw  every  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  proceeding  up  the  river ;  but  I  have  guarded  against  any 
ordinary  contingency,  by  having  a  good  boat  to  proceed  in  after  taking  the 
Loriot  above  Fort  Vancouver,  the  principal  establishment  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Compaijy,  situated  about  ninety  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  I 
have  also  purchased  some  few  articles  of  trade,  such  as  blankets,  tobacco 
&c.,  to  lull  suspicion  and  facilitate  my  movements. 

After  accomplishing  the  objects  of  my  mission  to  the  Oregon,  I  shall  run 
down  on  our  Une  of  coast  to  the  Bay  of  Bodega,  the  Russian  establishment 
ninety  miles  north  of  San  Francisco,  and  if  I  can  meet  a  party  sufficiently 
strong,  I  shall  cross  the  Indian  country  to  the  United  States,  Jbllowino-  the 
line  of  the  Sacramento  to  its  source,  which  must  be  near  the  head  waters 
of  the  La  Platte.  The  Russians  are  exceedingly  anxious  to  get  a  footing 
on  the  bay  of  San  Francisco.  Last  year,  they  erected  a  large  block-house 
on  the  north  side  of  the  bay,  ostensibly  to  be  used  as  a  granary  to  secure 
their  wheat  purchases  for  their  more  northern  establishments  at  Sitka  &c. 
The  people  of  California,  however,  are  exceedingly  jealous  of  their  en- 
croachments ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  they  (the  Californians)  are  most 
anxious  to  throw  off  the  Mexican  yoke,  and  claim  the  protection  of  the 
United  States.  The  American  ship  Rasselas  came  in  yesterday,  from  Mon- 
terey; came  out  with  the  United  States  ship  Peacock,  Commodore  Kennedy. 
The  captain  of  the  Rasselas  reports  that  the  "Rancheros"  were  marching 
against  the  Government  troops  about  one  hundred  strong.  Last  year,  the 
"Rancheros "  displaced  two  governors,  and  the  third  will, doubtless,  follow 
their  example.  There  are.  at  this  moment,  at  least  3C0  American  riflemen 
in  Upper  California,  enough  to  take  possession  and  hold  the  country,  be- 
cause the  people  are  decidedly  opposed  to  the  lawless  exactions  of  those 
who  have  been  sent  from  Mexico  to  rule  over  them.  I  hope  to  get  to  the 
United  States  in  April,  and  trust  the  information  I  may  be  enabled  to  lay 
before  the  Department  of  State  may  prove  useful  and  interesting. 

i  have  used  of  my  private  funds  about  $1,500,  as  the  enclosed  vouchers 
show.  I  shall  most  probably  be  compelled  to  draw  on  the  department  for 
my  further  expenses. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 
To  the  Hon.  John  Forsyth, 

Secretary  of  Stttfef  Washitigton. 


[24] 


no 

No.  6. 


Alexandria,  September  13,  1837. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communica- 
tion of  the  1 1  th  instant,  and  beg  to  ask  a  relerence  to  my  letters  of  June  7tli; 
from  Pelic  ;  oi  July  7lh,  from  Guaymas;  of  July  27th,  from  IVlazatlaii ;  oi 
October  10th,  from  San  Bias,  an4  November  24th,  from  Honolulu.  Those 
letters  explain  the  difticuUies  I  had  to  encounter,  and  the  reasons  which 
influenced  my  conduct  in  going  to  the  Sandwich  islands,  as  the  only  prac- 
ticable route  by  which  I  could  carry  into  effect  the  orders  I  had  the  honor 
to  receive  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  through  the  Department 
of  State,  in  November,  1835.  Those  orders,  directing  me  "  to  embrace  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  proceed  to  and  up  the  Oregon,  by  such  conveyanceis 
as  may  be  thought  to  afford  the  greatest  facilities  for  attaining  the  end  in 
view,"  in  my  humble  opinion,  fully  justified  my  chartering  the  brigLorioi, 
to  convey  me  to  the  river  Columbia.  On  the  subject  of  freight,  I  beg  leave 
to  assure  you,  that  none  was  taken  on  board,  either  on  my  account,  or  that 
of  any  other  person.  The  provisions,  accoutrements,  &c.,  <fcc.,  of  tlie 
American  settlers  from  the  Willhamett,  whom  I  conveyed  from  that  river  to 
Bodega,  were  taken  aboard  the  Loriot  free  of  expense,  as  the  agreement  of 
the  settlers,  now  on  file  in  the  TX>partment  of  State,  shows ;  and  the  benefit 
that  will  result  to  the  United  States  from  that  measure  alone,  will  be,  nny 
is,  at  this  moment,  more  than  ten  times  equivalent  to  all  the  expenses  in- 
curred in  my  journey.  From  the  1st  day  of  June,  1836,  when  my  private 
affairs  were  closed  in  Guaymas,  I  devoted  myself  to  the  duty  assigned  me  ; 
wholly  regardless  of  ray  private  interest,  which  would  have  led  me  to  the 
capital  of  Mexico,  to  prosecute,  in  person,  the  claim  I  hold  against  that 
Government.    (See  my  letter  of  October  10th,  from  San  Bias.) 

In  conclusion,  1  beg  leave  most  respectfully  to  remark,  that  inasmnch  as 
I  have  paid  on  the  account  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  in  specie, 
which  I  carried  with  me  at  my  own  risk,  it  seems  to  be  but  f«ir  tlmtl 
should  he  re-iii(ibursed  in  the  same  currency,  to  the  full  amount  of  my 
account. 

Witii  sentiments  of  the  highest  respect, 

I  am  your  mosi  obedient  setrvant, 

Wll^JUIAM  A.  ^LACUM. 

To  the  Hon.  John  Forsyth, 


No.  7. 

Al^HX»AZ»0|tttA. 

Sir  :  In  submitting  this  acoount  for  the  actual  expmses  Ihave  paid  in 
|;old>and>ailv&r,  on  account  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  Iw»sh 
It  to  be  distinctly  understood,  that,  from  June,  1836,  when  Iclosed  my  pri- 
vate  affairs  as  nearly  as  I  could  in  Guaymas,  I  devoted  all  my  time  and 
energies  to  execute  the  commission  intrusted  to  me,  to  the  postponement 
of  my  plivote  intereist,  w^di  would  have  led  me  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  to 
urae  in  psrson  the  claim  I  hold  against  thdt  Government,  for  about' 1(^000 
dollars. 


31 


[24  1 


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I  distinctly  state,  likewise,  that  I  had  no  private  business  ut  the  Sandwich 
islands,  or  elsewhere,  to  attend  to,  after  June,  1836,  when  I  commenced  my 
journey  towards  the  Columbia  rii  er  from  Lower  CaUfoi-niu.  When  I  failed 
in  getting  to  the  Columbia  by  land  from  Lower  California,  (see  my  letters 
of  June  and  July,  from  Guaymas,)  I  availed  myself  of  the  only  alternative, 
namely,  that  of  goinof  to  the  Sandwich  islands,  to  procure  a  vessel  to  take 
raie  into  the  river ;  my  anxiety  to  proceed  caused  me  to  take  up  a  small  ves- 
sel of  20  tons,  to  perform  a  voyage  of  3,()t>0  miles.  Finding  on  examination 
that  this  vessel  was  not  sea-worthy,  i  chartered  another  even  smaller,  and 
after  being  out  19  days,  and  nearly  entirely  wrecked,  I  was  compelled  to 
abandon  this  vessel,  and  take  passage  in  ihe  English  barque  Falcon  for  the 
Sandwich  islands,  where  I  chartered  the  Loriot,  and  proceeded  to  the  Co- 
lumbia river.  Hence  has  arisen  the  charges  for  Joven  Teresa,  and  the  Lo- 
retano,  (see  my  letter  from  Mazatlan,  of  July,  1836,)  the  charges  for  cloth- 
ing, blankets,  &c.  were  as  necessary  for  my  use,  to  withstand  the  rigor  of 
the  climate,  exposed  as  I  was,  as  to  the  arms  which  I  carried  witli  me  at 
my  own  expense.  Part  of  the  clothing  I  g-ve  to  the  Indians  for  services 
rendered.  1  took  with  me  gold  and  silver  at  my  o\»|i  risk,  and  which  was 
calculated  to  increase  the  dangers  of  the  journey  :  these  were  neither  few 
n»r  light.  I  have  made  presents  of  arms,  &,c.  to  persons  who  have  been 
civil  to  me,  and  Imve  acttially  expended,  in  this  way,  over  $200.  I  have; 
not  charged  these  items  in  my  account,  nor  is  there  any  charge  for  interest, 
because  I  have  reasonably  thought  that  the  arduous  duty  I  have  performed 
would  receive  the  attention  of  the  Executive  of  the  United  States. 

With  great  respect,  I  remain, 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 

To  the  honorable  John  Forsyth, 
iSecretari/  of  State,  Washington, 


No.  8. 

EXTRACT- 

Falcon,  ovi'  Sax  Bla§, 

October  10/A,  1836. 

My  dkar  Stu  :  1  have  much  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of 
your  favor  of  the  20th,  just  from  Mexico. 

'  I  have  requested  my  friends,  Messrs.  Barron,  P^orbes,  df.  Co.  to  forward  to 
you  the  drafts  on  the  custom-house  at  Guaymas,  a>id  have  to  beg  the 
favor  of  your  doing  all  you  can  to  get  the  claim  adjusted.  I  am  compelled 
to  proceed,  on  duty  for  the  Government,  to  the  Oregon,  else  I  should  hasten 
to  Mexico,  to  endeavor  to  make  some  settlement  or  this,  to  me,  important 
claim.  I  put  the  greatest  trust  in  your  getting  the  claim  acknowledged  at 
once,  from  its  apparent  equity. 

Yours  most  truly, 

WILLIAM  A.  SLACUM. 
To  I*owhattan  Ellis,  Esq.     . 

Mexico. 


